Bringing Elections to Our Classrooms
Teaching Students to Vote on Something that Really Matters
More people call in their votes for the top performer on the hit TV show “American Idol” than vote in any election ever held for president of the U.S.
So, is voting important? Does your vote really matter?
If you’re a candidate for public office enduring the uncertainty of election results in November, you know darn well that every vote matters.
Yet these are the questions that educators struggle with answering, often turning to election officials for help. No secretary of state would say no, of course, but conveying real meaning behind the “yes” answers—and ultimately creating engaged citizens who vote—can be a significant challenge. It’s even more daunting when you consider that an increasing number of young people are coming from homes where one or more of their parents do not vote; this remains the single, most important factor in whether they ultimately exercise this right.
Research conducted by CIRCLE, an academic institution studying civic engagement, indicates long-term civic development can be boosted by bringing elections into the classroom. One recent study determined that frequent classroom discussion around election issues, teacher encouragement of the expression of opinions, and student participation in a get-out-the-vote or mock election effort can make a significant difference.
Secretaries of state across the country are doing their part to foster these conditions by delivering nonpartisan voting and election information to schools, often in partnership with organizations such as Kids Voting USA and National Student/Parent Mock Election. The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), an affiliate of The Council of State Governments, produces an overview of member outreach programs as part of its biennial New Millennium Survey Update, which can be found online at www.nass.org.
In Maine, my office works closely with schools to coordinate mock elections, voter registration drives, poll worker recruitment programs, and more. We produce a voter guide for new and first-time voters, and we make this available to educators, along with voter registration materials.
What have we learned about voting and civics education? First and foremost, the Internet is the most cost-effective medium for reaching eligible young voters, and the classrooms where such participation is being encouraged.
New for 2010, NASS has produced a handy tool for the modern citizen—the Can I Vote widget, which allows anyone with a website or social media page one-stop access to nonpartisan voting information produced by state election offices. The widget is an offspring of our voting website, www.canivote.org. With either one of these tools, a curious young person can quickly learn how to get registered and cast a ballot.
Given the historically high turnout rate among young voters in the 2008 presidential election, state officials and educators have good reason to focus their increasingly limited resources on developing the habit of voting in our children. As research shows, bringing information about elections to our classrooms yields positive results.
If young people think “American Idol” is important, imagine how they’ll feel when they vote for something that really matters.
September is National Voter Registration Month
3 Ways to Register Voters
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 60 million eligible voters went unregistered—and didn’t vote—in 2008. September is National Voter Registration Month. Here are three easy ways to do your part and get involved:
1Be an Ambassador: High schools and colleges are always looking for an effective guest presentation. Visit several classrooms and give a pitch for voting. Visit classrooms that are off the beaten path, such as automotive, agricultural or astronomy classes. Chances are, these are the students who could benefit most from a civics pep talk. Take voter registration forms with you.
2 Spread the Word: Encourage people to register or update their voter information using tools like the nonpartisan National Association of Secretaries of State Can I Vote widget—www.canivote.org/widget—which it links directly to state and local election websites. Users can also sign up for e-mail election alerts and reminders. Post the widget on your website and provide it to your local network of media, school officials, community groups and more.
3 Plan a Drive: Work with your community to plan a voter registration drive. Target eligible voters by going to places where they do everyday business, such as grocery stores, malls or sporting events. September is also back-to-school time, so it’s a great opportunity to reach out to students at campus events that draw crowds. Contact your state or local election officials for information on registration requirements, deadlines and more.
