At Pahrump Valley High School (PVHS), teachers are leading the charge in promoting civic engagement among students through a voter registration drive and mock election event. These initiatives, spearheaded by Mr. Josh Bender and Mrs. Patricia Martin, aim to equip students with the knowledge and experience needed to become active participants in democracy.
Mr. Bender, who teaches U.S. Government and philosophy at PVHS, has been an educator for three years. The voter registration drive he organized was open not only to eligible students but also to staff members. “I sent out an email saying if you’re a staff member or you want to check your registration or register now, you have that opportunity,” Mr. Bender explained. He enlisted former students to assist with the drive, providing them with valuable volunteer hours.
His motivation stemmed from a startling statistic he encountered in an NBC article: nearly 8 million eligible high school seniors do not vote each year. “That’s a big number—enough to sway an election,” he said. With Nevada’s status as a swing state, Mr. Bender emphasized the importance of voter participation. “Even though these students are young, their votes matter just as much as those of older voters,” he said. “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. Your voice needs to be heard.”
Mr. Bender’s passion for voter registration is not new—he actively participated in similar efforts during his college years. Now, he is passing that enthusiasm to his students, teaching them the importance of civic duty. “Voting is one of the greatest privileges you have as an American citizen,” he said, highlighting how simple the registration process can be.
Complementing Mr. Bender’s voter registration drive, Mrs. Martin organized a mock election event through her AP U.S. Government class. With nearly four decades of teaching experience, Mrs. Martin has spent the last six years at PVHS, guiding countless students in civic education. This project, however, wasn’t just a unique classroom exercise—it fulfilled a requirement from the College Board. “One of the requirements for AP Government from the College Board is to complete a public service project,” Mrs. Martin explained. “The mock election serves as our project this year.”
The mock election was designed to demystify the voting process and teach students how polling centers operate. “We teach the etiquette of a voting center and show students how they can abstain from votes if they choose to,” Mrs. Martin said. Students were rewarded with “I Voted” stickers to replicate the real experience. “Everybody loves a sticker,” she added with a laugh.
Mrs. Martin traditionally conducts mock elections during presidential election years and decided it was the perfect service project this year to further promote civic engagement and meet the requirement from the College Board. “Voting can feel intimidating, even for adults. But once students experience it, they realize how simple it is.”
To make the mock election as realistic as possible, students used real election data and ballots provided through a partnership with a University of Virginia nonprofit funded by a grant from Washington, D.C. “We’ll receive a detailed report within 10 days, which will show how the students voted,” Mrs. Martin noted. “It’s the same data and ballot format that adult voters in Nye County use.” More than 1,100 students participated and learned the process of voting.
Both Mr. Bender and Mrs. Martin hope these efforts will inspire students to become lifelong voters. “The future of our country depends on engaged, informed voters,” Mr. Bender emphasized. “And that starts with our students.”
Through these initiatives, PVHS is not only fulfilling the College Board’s requirement for AP courses but also fostering a deep understanding of civic responsibility. “The goal is to show them that voting isn’t just a right—it’s a responsibility,” Mrs. Martin said. “We’re teaching students to be active, responsible citizens now and throughout their lives.”
With the voter registration drive and mock election, PVHS students are gaining practical experience that will empower them to participate in future elections confidently and responsibly. The combined efforts of Mr. Bender and Mrs. Martin ensure that these students will leave high school prepared to make their voices heard in the democratic process.
