A Closer Look at Voting Patterns

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Overview

In this lesson students will discuss why it is important to vote, analyze the costs or inconveniences and benefits of voting, and identify ways to increase voter turnout.

Grade Levels

9-12

Objectives

Students will:

• discuss why it is important to vote;
• identify the costs and benefits of voting; and
• write a paper that discusses ways to increase voter participation.

Estimated Time

2 days

Materials Needed

• E-Learning Module: Civic Participation
• Chalk and chalkboard or a marker and whiteboard
• Newspapers and news magazines
• Internet connection with Macromedia FLASH ® enabled
• Pencil and paper

Procedure

Day 1

1. Briefly discuss elections and the process of voting. Make sure students have a clear understanding of the act of voting.
2. Discuss why it is important to vote. Have students list some reasons why it is important to vote.
3. Have students look at the graph that shows voter turnout through the years. (This is located in the “The Importance of Voting” section of the Civic Participation module.) Ask students to make observations about voter participation in the 1950s and 1960s, compared to the 1970s and 1980s. Conduct a whole-class discussion and have students explain why they think participation rates declined.
4. Have students look at the voter turnout rates for other countries. (This is located in the “The Importance of Voting” section of the Civic Participation module.) Ask students to speculate why voter turnout rates are higher in other countries.
5. Divide the class into four groups. Have one group find out why voter turnout increased during the 1960 Presidential election. This group should then conduct research to find out why voter turnout has declined since then. This group should examine how historical events in the 1960s and 1970s affected voter turnout. Have another group conduct research about the 1980s. Ask this group to list some possible reasons why voter turnout declined during this decade. Students in this group should consider decline of political parties and the disillusionment on the part of the public with the quality of government. Ask the third group to research voting in other countries. Have this group describe how voting differs from country to country. Ask the fourth group to conduct research and find out why voting increased in 1992. Students in this group should examine the 1992 Presidential campaign and learn about the “Rock the Vote” voter registration drive.

Day 2

1. Have one volunteer from each group summarize the group’s findings to the class.
2. Have students brainstorm the costs or inconveniences of voting. These might include meeting residency requirements, registering to vote, gathering information about candidates and issues, transportation to the polls, or finding the time to vote. Write these costs on the board.
3. Have students brainstorm some of the benefits received from voting. These might include participating in the maintenance of the political system, helping ensure the election of a candidate or political party whose ideas you support, or practicing good citizenship. Write these benefits on the board.
4. For homework, have each student write a paper in which he or she discusses why actions should be taken to increase the benefits, or reduce the costs, of voting. How can those actions insure higher voter participation rates? And what can be done to increase voter participation? Refer students to “Factors Involved in Voter Turnout” in the “The Importance of Voting” section of the Civic Participation module before they begin writing the paper.

Extension and Adaptation Activities

Extending the Activity

Invite a representative from the local government to come to the class to discuss how elections are administered and controlled.

Cross-Curricular Connection

Have students analyze data about voter turnout in the United States for the past 20 years. Have students create a graph that shows voter turnout for the following groups: African-Americans, women, young adults ages 18 to 25, Hispanics, and retired people. Ask students to devise a plan that will increase voter participation among specific groups.

Assessment

Basic Concepts and Processes

Ask your students to respond to the following requests for information and assess their knowledge of key concepts taught in this lesson.

1. List at least three costs or inconveniences and three benefits of voting.
2. Identify at least one way to increase voter participation.

Scoring Guide for A Closer Look at Voting Patterns

Elements	Possible Score	Assigned Score	Notes
Correct spelling and grammar	10
Good beginning, middle, and end	10
Lists at least three reasons why voting is important	20
Lists at least three costs of voting	20
Describes why action should be taken to increase voter turnout	20
Names at least one way to increase voter participation	20

Lesson Plan Feedback

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