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4 min to readNovember elections are coming up, and if your children have noticed the campaign ads on TV or signs on lawns, this is a good time to teach them about elections, why voting matters, and why people vote.
Besides the fact that voting is a cornerstone of our country’s way of life, literally millions of people take part in elections every year. It’s good to teach your online students about elections, why voting matters, and what their role is in elections.
The United States saw a record turnout for the 2020 elections, with 66.8 percent of citizens age 18 and older voting, the U.S. Census Bureau says. Prior to that, nearly 56 percent of the U.S. voting-age population cast a ballot in the 2016 election, and the record was 58 percent in 2008, according to the Pew Research Center.
These figures tell us that nearly half of eligible voters sit out major elections in our country. Off-year, or non-presidential, elections typically draw even fewer voters. Why do people choose to not have their say about who runs our country?
Books, articles and blog posts by the score have tried to answer the age-old “Why should I vote” question.
Some say we have a duty to vote as citizens of a democracy and beneficiaries of government services, such as roads and fire department protection, as well as the rights established by the U.S. Constitution.
Some research suggests that people are motivated to vote because they want to “fit in” with other voters. Others vote because they believe their vote will make a difference. You can stoke your youngster’s enthusiasm with six stories of how one vote changed an election.
Kids can’t vote until they turn 18, of course, but there are ways for kids to get involved in elections:
New Voters, a student-run nonprofit working to expand the youth vote by organizing voter registration drives in high schools across America, says engaging youth in the election process during high school will prepare them to be frequent and informed voters in the future. They propose a curriculum emphasizing knowledge of politics, critical-thinking, civic-mindedness, civic responsibility, and understanding the value and role of democracy in our country.
Choose what to have for dinner, what movie to watch, or what to do next weekend or for the holidays.
Let a younger child count the votes and announce the winner. (Then, if necessary, have a lesson about veto powers.)
Learning Coaches who need a refresher should check out How Stuff Works: How Midterm Elections Work. Writer Dave Roos explains off-year voting and points out that, “While the presidential election isn’t decided by popular vote (remember the electoral college?), midterm elections give Americans a chance to vote directly for the politicians who will likely have the greatest impact on their daily lives.”