Elementary Students in Bedford Central School District Cast Their Votes

As citizens across the country prepare to vote in this year’s presidential election, elementary school students across Bedford Central School District have been taking part in elections of their own.

Each school had its own vote on something different — from Pound Ridge Elementary School’s student council vote to elections on spirit days and special events. Across the district, students had voter registration forms to fill out and sign that will follow them throughout their elementary school careers.

“It is a very special day for students at our school,” Elementary Coordinator Erika Volpe told Pound Ridge third graders as they filed into the voting room. “You filled out your voter registration. That’s kind of like your ticket to vote.”

After explaining the process — which was the same across schools and involved going into a private voting booth and selecting their choice on a Chromebook — Volpe reminded students that their vote was their own and it didn’t matter what their friends chose.

“Think about who you agree with most in their beliefs and ideas for our school,” she said.

Districtwide, students were ecstatic to cast their ballot.

“I am a voting citizen!” a West Patent Elementary School fourth grader gleefully exclaimed to her friend when she came out of the voting booth.

At Bedford Hills, students were blown away by the voting set up, which included ambient lighting and patriotic music. “Woah!” students said as they walked into the room. “This is so cool!”

“This was my first time voting!” a proud Mount Kisco Elementary School kindergartner said.

“We listened to what the candidates had to say, and I knew who to pick,” Pound Ridge third grader Harley said. “I liked what they had to say.”

At Bedford Village, a kindergartner noted that he knew all about voting, as his class had voted on a class party before.

“We already had a pajama day,” he said, “so I knew I didn’t want that.”

As student voters got ready to file out of the voting room at Pound Ridge, Volpe gave them an important reminder.

“The person who you want to win might not win,” she said. “But we’re going to be proud of who we voted for and proud of our winner.”

Head to our social media to see more photos from all five elementary schools!