Democracy Assembly for Primary Schools – Voting and Elections / British Values
Updated: Sep 1
This democracy assembly for primary schools explores how voting can be used to make important decisions and choose leaders. Through an engaging ‘special chair’ vote, discussion and reflection, pupils experience democracy for themselves before learning about elections and considering what happens when the result of a vote is not the one they wanted. Children explore democracy as one of the five fundamental British Values and consider why having a voice also means respecting the choices made by others.
Suitable for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
This assembly can be used on its own or alongside our Introduction to the Five British Values assembly, which introduces democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
What does democracy mean?
Democracy is about people having a voice in the decisions that affect them.
One of the most familiar ways people take part in democracy is by voting. A vote allows people to express a choice, and the result can then be used to make a decision.
Children may already have experienced voting at school. They might have voted for a school council representative, chosen between different activities or helped decide something as a class.
This assembly introduces vocabulary including vote, election, democratic and General Election, helping children build a simple understanding of how voting works in both school and wider society.
It provides a child-friendly way to explore democracy as part of the wider British Values pupils encounter throughout primary school.
How does the assembly teach democracy?
The assembly begins with a practical vote.
A ‘special chair’ is placed at the front of the hall, and children vote to decide which member of staff should have the privilege of sitting in it.
This simple activity immediately gives pupils an experience of democracy. They have a choice, they can express their preference and everyone’s vote contributes to the final result.
The activity then provides a starting point for exploring bigger democratic decisions, including elections.
Rather than simply being told what democracy means, pupils experience the process before considering why voting is useful when a group of people needs to make an important choice.
What is a General Election?
A General Election is an important democratic event in which people across the country vote.
The assembly introduces children to the idea of a General Election and explains that the most recent UK General Election took place in 2024.
For primary-aged pupils, the emphasis is not on understanding the detailed workings of government. Instead, the General Election provides a real-world example of large numbers of people using their votes to help decide who should lead and represent them.
This makes a useful progression from the small vote at the beginning of the assembly: the principle is similar even though the decision is much bigger.
Schools wishing to explore a different aspect of this value can also use our Democracy assembly about the Suffragettes and voting rights, which focuses on why having the right to vote matters.
Why is voting important in a democracy?
Voting provides people with a way to express what they think should happen.
In a democracy, people will not always agree. Different voters may want completely different things, which means the final result cannot satisfy everybody.
This assembly asks children to consider how it feels when the thing they voted for does not win.
That is an important part of learning about democracy.
Having a voice does not mean always getting our own way. Democracy also involves listening to other people, accepting that their votes matter just as much as ours and responding appropriately when the majority chooses something different.
This connects naturally with Mutual Respect, another of the five British Values. Democracy works best when people are able to disagree while continuing to treat each other respectfully.
How can children experience democracy at school?
Children do not have to wait until they are old enough to vote in an election before they can experience democracy.
Schools provide many opportunities for democratic decision-making. Pupils might vote for representatives, express their views through questionnaires, choose between activities or take part in class decisions.
Even something as simple as deciding which game to play can involve democratic principles.
The assembly finishes by asking children:
How will you choose which games to play at lunchtime today?
This deliberately brings the idea of democracy back to children’s everyday lives and encourages them to consider how groups can make fair decisions when different people want different things.
Our wider Democracy assemblies for primary schools can be used to explore other aspects of voting, representation, fairness and having a voice.
Is voting always the best way to make a decision?
One of the strengths of this assembly is that it does not simply tell children that voting is always perfect.
Pupils are encouraged to reflect on whether a vote is the best way to decide something important.
This gives older children in particular an opportunity to think more deeply about democracy.
Votes allow everyone to contribute, but they also produce winners and losers. Sometimes people may feel disappointed by the result. Sometimes those making a decision also need good information before they vote.
These questions help pupils move beyond simply learning a definition of democracy and begin considering both the benefits and responsibilities involved in democratic decision-making.
What does the Bible teach about choosing leaders?
For schools choosing to use the optional collective worship elements, this assembly links democracy to the Israelites asking Samuel for a king.
The Israelites wanted a king to lead them like the surrounding nations. Samuel warned them about the possible consequences, but they continued to ask for one. God eventually instructed Samuel to listen to the people and give them a king.
The story provides an opportunity to explore the responsibility involved in choosing leaders and the fact that the choices made by a group can have important consequences.
The assembly uses 1 Samuel 8:21–22 and asks pupils to consider why God listened to the people even though their choice might not have been the wisest one.
The optional collective worship section concludes with a prayer thanking God for the opportunity to help choose leaders and asking for wisdom, fairness and leaders who care for everyone.
This democracy assembly includes:
A ready-to-use PowerPoint
A clear, easy-to-follow assembly structure
An interactive voting activity
An introduction to elections and democracy
Key vocabulary including vote, election and democratic
A simple introduction to the General Election
Discussion and reflection questions
Opportunities to explore winning and losing a vote
Optional collective worship slides
A Bible link to Samuel and the Israelites choosing a king
A short prayer
Suggestions for extending the learning throughout the week
FAQs
What are the five British Values?
The five British Values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. This assembly focuses specifically on democracy and voting. Our Introduction to the Five British Values assembly provides a simple overview of all five.
What does democracy mean for primary school children?
Democracy means having a voice in decisions. For primary school children, this can be explored through voting, school councils, class decisions and other opportunities to express an opinion and contribute to a group choice.
How does this democracy assembly teach children about voting?
Children take part in a simple vote to decide which member of staff should sit on a special chair. The assembly then uses this experience to introduce elections and discuss why voting can be used to make important decisions.
How is this different from the other Democracy assembly?
This assembly focuses on voting, elections and choosing leaders. Our Democracy assembly about the Suffragettes and voting rights approaches the same British Value from a different angle, exploring why having the right to vote matters and how women campaigned to gain that right.
Is this democracy assembly suitable for EYFS, KS1 and KS2?
Yes. The assembly is suitable for EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Younger children can focus on voting and making group choices, while older pupils can explore elections, choosing leaders and whether voting is always the best way to make an important decision.
Does the assembly include collective worship?
Yes. Optional collective worship slides use the story of the Israelites asking Samuel for a king to explore choosing leaders and the responsibilities that come with important decisions. A short prayer is also included.
Do I need to plan anything for this assembly?
No, all of our assemblies are ready-to-deliver. Simply download, read the plan and deliver. For maximum impact, you may wish to place a chair at the front of the hall and decorate it before the assembly so that the opening vote feels like a genuine privilege.
Looking for more British Values assemblies?
Explore our full range of British Values assemblies for primary schools, including ready-to-use resources covering democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
Continue exploring democracy with our Democracy assembly about the Suffragettes and voting rights, or move on to our other British Values assemblies.
All assemblies include ready-to-use PowerPoint slides, discussion and reflection activities, with optional collective worship content.
Explore all British Values assemblies and make planning your next whole-school assembly quick and easy.
Assembly Resources:
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