Civics Lesson
GRADE LEVEL: High School What Needs to Change to Increase Voter Turnout?
After every election, regardless of the outcome, people wonder how many people showed up at the polls to vote. The number is never as high as people would like, especially during midterm elections. In the 2016 Presidential election, 60.1% of the population eligible to vote showed up to the polls. During the midterm elections in 2018, only 50.3% of those eligible voted. While thousands of dollars…
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Civics Lesson
GRADE LEVEL: High School On What Grounds, If Any, Should an Adult U.S. Citizen Be Prevented from Voting?
Should There Be Felony Disenfranchisement Laws?
During the 2018 midterm elections, Florida voted on whether to allow those who have been incarcerated to gain back their right to vote. Florida was one of a handful of states that did not allow previous felons to have their voting rights restored following completion of their prison sentences…
Civics Lesson
GRADE LEVEL: High School What is the Electoral College? How is the Electoral College Democratic or Not?
In the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, President Donald Trump won even though he did not win the popular vote. Why? He won the Electoral College vote. In other moments in U.S. History, the presidential candidate who won the popular vote was not elected, as the other candidate won via the Electoral College (including George W. Bush in 2000). These election results…
GRADE LEVEL: High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language The Origins of the Electoral College
The Electoral College, the process by which Presidential races are ultimately decided, is the subject of ongoing debate and controversy. The Electoral College always decides the outcome of the Presidential election, but five times in our history and two times in the last five elections, the Electoral College selected a president who did not win the majority…
Teach students about the difference between caucuses and regular primary elections and engage them in a mock classroom caucus election.
GRADE LEVEL: High School
COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language The Most Important Ballot Initiatives of 2018
Voting rights were on the ballot in the 2018 midterm elections, with several states enacting ballot initiatives/measures to expand voting rights. These initiatives include rules about redistricting, same-day voter registration, automatic voter registration and restoring the voting rights of people convicted of felonies. …
Engage students in reflecting on their thoughts and feelings about the Presidential election and write a letter to the President-elect.