Israeli Arab School Holds Mock Election to Boost Civic Engagement
Ort Helmi Shafei School in Acre organized a seminar on the importance of political participation in light of challenges facing the Arab community. The event aimed to enhance students' civic awareness and foster a culture of dialogue and respect for differing opinions.
The seminar was initiated and organized by the school's civics department, led by Dr. Adel Rayan and Yousef Salem. It featured prominent speakers including educator and writer Mohammed Ali Taha, writer and critic Anton Shalhat, and Sheikh Abbas Zakour. School administration, faculty, and students from the 10th and 12th grades attended.
School principal Mohammed Hajjuj opened the event, emphasizing the importance of providing students with opportunities for dialogue on issues affecting their community and future. Dr. Adel Rayan moderated the seminar, which explored the concepts of political and civic participation, the role of youth in public affairs, and issues such as crime, violence, housing, and services. Students engaged in an open discussion, asking questions and contributing to the dialogue.
As a practical exercise, students participated in a simulated election process. After learning about conscious choice, secret ballots, valid and void votes, and the option of boycotting, they cast their votes secretly. Students and teachers then publicly counted the ballots. The results showed the "Joint List" receiving 55% of the votes, the "United List" receiving 40%, and other votes, including boycotts and invalid ballots, accounting for 5%.
Organizers stressed that these results were not representative of the Arab community's general views or actual election outcomes but solely reflected the educational activity. The primary goal was to practically educate students on participation, choice, and respecting others' will. The school administration thanked the guests, faculty, and students, with special appreciation for the civics department's efforts in organizing the educational day.
