Lake Chelan Dragon on the ballot as state student mock election opens

OLYMPIA — Washington's youngest voters can weigh in on whether the Lake Chelan Dragon or Sasquatch should be the state cryptid as the 2026 Student Mock Election opens to K-12 classrooms.

The Office of the Secretary of State's nonpartisan mock election runs from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Election Day, Nov. 3. Teachers can download ballots, tabulation sheets, posters and voters' pamphlets, and order free "I voted" stickers, at sos.wa.gov/elections/mock.

This year's main toolkit teaches lawmaking through the measures and races on the ballot, and students vote on paper ballots as in real Washington elections. An alternate toolkit for younger students asks them to vote on simpler questions, including the state cryptid race.

"This program is actively educating future voters and empowering them to engage in civic life once they're eligible to vote," Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said.

Classroom participation numbers will be posted on the office's Student Mock Election dashboard at sos.wa.gov/student-mock-election-dashboard.