Israeli Arab School Holds Mock Election to Boost Civic Engagement

The "Ort Helmi Shafei" school in Acre, Israel, organized a seminar focused on the importance of political participation within the Arab community, aiming to foster civic awareness and a culture of dialogue among students. The event, initiated by the school's civics department, featured discussions led by educator Dr. Adel Rayan and teacher Yousef Salem, with participation from writer Mohammed Ali Taha, 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 seminar, emphasizing the importance of providing students with a platform for discussion on issues affecting their community and future. Dr. Adel Rayan moderated the session, which explored political and civic engagement, the role of youth in public affairs, and addressed topics such as crime, violence, housing, and services. Students actively participated through questions and interventions.

As a practical exercise, students engaged in a simulated election process after learning about conscious choice, secret ballots, valid and invalid votes, and the option of boycotting. They cast secret ballots, and students and teachers then publicly counted the votes. The mock results showed the "Joint List" receiving 55% of the vote, the "United List" 40%, and other votes, including boycotts and invalid ballots, accounting for 5%.

Organizers clarified that these results were solely from the educational activity and did not reflect actual political leanings or general election outcomes. The primary goal was to provide students with a practical understanding of participation, choice, and respecting others' decisions. The school administration thanked the guests, staff, and students, particularly Dr. Rayan and Mr. Salem, for organizing the educational day that combined knowledge, dialogue, and practical experience.