Why Vote?

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As a class, discuss the door hanger message and if they think the design and wording ... or she can listen to the radio
Using Primary Sources

Standard/Objective

Take Control. Vote!

Why Vote?

• Identify examples of rights and responsibilities of citizens. (NCSS) • Students will explain the reasons citizens should exercise their right to vote, and they will design posters or door hangers encouraging citizens to vote.

Materials Create a transparency of the Take Control. Vote! photograph card; Copies of the historical background information (page 30); Copies of the Voting Reading Comprehension Questions (comp.pdf) available on the CD; Card stock copies of the Door Hanger Template (hanger.pdf) available on the CD; Overhead projector; Blank paper

Discussion Questions

• Why should citizens vote? • Why do you think one third of American citizens do not vote in presidential elections and even fewer vote in state or local elections? • How can people be encouraged to vote?

Using the Primary Source Ask the first discussion question above and open the topic for class discussion. Continue by asking the next two questions. Put the transparency of the photograph card Take Control. Vote! on the overhead projector. Ask students to examine the door hanger using the What Do You See? questions from the back of the photograph card. As a class, discuss the door hanger message and if they think the design and wording is effective. Distribute copies of the historical background information (page 30) and have students read it with partners. Give students the Voting Reading Comprehension Questions (comp.pdf), and have them complete the questions. Discuss their answers and the information as a class and look at how this relates to the previous discussion. Discuss the importance of having an effective design to catch people’s interest. Discuss catchy titles to interest or encourage citizens to vote. Distribute the card stock copies of the Door Hanger Template (hanger.pdf) and blank paper to each student. Have each student design a door hanger that encourages people to vote in the upcoming election. The design should be done on the blank paper first, as a prototype, and then on card stock. Make sure you leave time for students to share their work once they have finished. Assign additional activities of your choice from the back of the photograph card.

Extension Idea Ask someone from your county election board to come and talk to the class about voting and registering to vote. Ask the speaker to share local statistics about voter turnout for local, state, and national elections in your community.

© Teacher Created Materials

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#19949—Primary Sources: Elections

Using Primary Sources

Take Control. Vote!

Why Vote? (cont.)

Historical Background Information

The form of government in the United States is a democratic republic. Citizens elect leaders to make and enforce laws. If the leaders do well, citizens reward them by voting them back into office. If they do not do well, citizens will not vote for them again. Citizens have a great deal of control through the ballot box and through the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly. The right to vote is guaranteed by the Constitution. Voting is not only a right; it is also a privilege and a responsibility of citizenship. However, not all Americans exercise their right to vote. Many only vote in presidential elections. In the 2004 presidential election, only 47 percent of people aged 18 to 24 years old voted in the election. However, 66 percent of citizens over 25 years old voted. That means that almost half of the young citizens and one-third of the rest of the citizens did not vote. The way Americans exercise control over their government is by voting, writing, and speaking about their views. Voters can write to their elected officials, write letters to editors, and send e-mails about what they think is right. They can also join organizations that support their ideas. To be an informed voter takes some effort. A person needs to read newspapers, news magazines, and watch news programs on television. He or she can listen to the radio and visit websites that tell about government actions and candidates. Talking with others about ideas and viewpoints helps voters make decisions. While national elections are important, state and local elections are just as important. Unfortunately, voters sometimes forget to vote in those local or state elections. On a state and local level, many decisions are made that affect people’s daily lives. Some of those elections are about funding streets, parks, and school improvements. Some state ballots may include laws on very important issues, such as increasing taxes or supporting a special project. Voting on these issues can determine the amount of money citizens pay for items and what services they get in the community. It is ironic that many citizens in dictator-controlled countries really want to vote and cannot. Americans can vote, and yet a big percentage of American citizens do not. The United States needs informed voters who exercise their right to vote and value that freedom. Like the door hanger says, “Take control. Vote.”

#19949—Primary Sources: Elections

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© Teacher Created Materials