With the actual election just days away, students at W.O. Mitchell Elementary School in Kanata decided to learn about democracy first-hand and voted Friday in the school’s mock election.

The mock election was run for students by students with those in grades five to eight participating.

“It’s crucial, if you don’t do it you can really affect Canada,” said one student about the right to vote.

This activity was part of the Student Vote initiative. Hundreds of thousands of students from across the country were expected to cast ballots in mock elections held at schools across the country.

The results of this mock election won’t be released until the actual polls close on Monday.

“I think this type of activity really plants the seeds of democracy and I think in the end that’s what it’s all about,” said Lise Sévigny, a teacher at the school.