The Great Cookie Election: Oreo vs. Chips Ahoy
Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to live fulfilled lives in their communities. One important part of being an active member of the community is having the opportunity to vote and make your voice heard.
With the primary elections approaching, we wanted to make sure the individuals we serve felt prepared, informed, and comfortable with the voting process. That’s why we held a week-long educational mock election featuring campaigning, debating, and, of course, an Election Day!
For many of the individuals we serve, anxiety about doing something new can make it difficult to take that first step. By dedicating an entire week to learning about voting and experiencing each part of the process, we worked to make voting feel more familiar, approachable, and empowering.
Getting Election Ready
The Great Cookie Election kicked off with all of our day programs coming together at our Skills Training location. Amy from the Elkhart County Voter Registration Office, joined us to give a presentation about what voting is, how the voting process works, and why voting is an important part of our community and democratic system.
Participants sat in a classroom-style setting and learned the basics of voting and voting jargon, asked questions, and saw examples of what they could expect when they vote in a real election.
To make the experience even more hands-on, Amy brought in a voting machine so participants could see and interact with it up close. This gave everyone an opportunity to become more familiar with the equipment they may encounter on Election Day. To end the day, participants filled out a mock voter registration card, and everyone was ready for the week ahead.
Hitting the Campaign Trail
On day two, it was time to hit the campaign trail! Participants chose between two beloved cookie candidates: Oreos and Chips Ahoy. Before the campaign began, one of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) reviewed some important ground rules. Participants learned the difference between facts and opinions and discussed how to share their thoughts and respond respectfully, even when someone has a different opinion.
Then it was time to get creative!
Volunteers from Lippert joined us and helped participants create campaign posters for their chosen cookie. While everyone worked on their masterpieces, commercials for both Oreos and Chips Ahoy played in the background, giving participants some ideas and information to use in their campaigns.
Once the posters were complete, participants had the opportunity to stand in front of the group and campaign for their cookie of choice.
Campaign points included arguments such as Oreos being better for dunking in milk and Chips Ahoy offering chewy options for those who prefer a softer cookie. There was plenty of creativity, enthusiasm, and, most importantly, an opportunity for everyone to practice sharing their opinions and making their voices heard.
May the Best Cookie Win
With the campaigns underway, it was time to hear both sides of the cookie debate!
The third day was debate day. Skills Trainers Myrdellas and Tealia debated on behalf of their chosen cookies. This provided another opportunity to demonstrate that it is okay to have different opinions while still treating others with kindness and respect. Just like in a real election, participants were encouraged to listen, think about what they had learned, and make their own choice.
The next day is where all the work came together – Election Day.
We recreated the voting experience as closely as possible to help participants understand what they could expect during an actual election. Upon arrival, participants checked in, received a ballot with their name, found a private space to cast their vote, and submitted their ballot just as they had practiced earlier in the week.
The Results Are In!
On the final day of the Great Cookie Election, everyone came together one last time to celebrate the week and find out which cookie would be crowned the winner.
Winning by just one vote…
OREO!
While Oreo may have taken home the crown, the real win was seeing everyone participate, ask questions, share their opinions, and experience the voting process firsthand. Throughout the week, participants learned that voting is about more than simply choosing a candidate. It is about having a voice, making informed decisions, respecting different opinions, and taking an active role in your community.
Most importantly, everyone had the opportunity to learn, make their own informed choices, and see that their voice really does matter.
Written by Lauren Srmek, Communications Specialist
