I. Start with teaser true/false questions regarding young voters (See
handout).
1. False. The voting age was changed in 1971 to accommodate younger
citizens who felt that if they were old enough to die in service for
their country, they were old enough to vote.
2. False. The 2000 presidential election was an all-time low for
young voter turnout. Only 36% of eligible voters under the age of
24 voted.
3. True. Volunteerism is on the rise, but only in direct service,
social service organizations.
4. False. Youth volunteerism is at an all-time low for good government
organizations, political organizations, etc.
II. Use the second handout ("Question") to spark discussion regarding
students' expectations for government in their lives.
III. Do you think that government officials should listen to your opinion
as young people? Do any issues affect you as students in particular?
See handout ("Issues").
IV. Do politicians and government officials listen to students? Why?
Why not? A cycle has occurred in today's world: politicians do not listen
to young people because young people do not vote; young people feel
disenfranchised because they are not being listened to, so they do not
vote. Who is going to break this cycle? Never leave something this important
to someone else. It is YOUR responsibility.
V. Activity:
Have everyone in the class stand. They represent all of the people
who are eligible to vote in the U.S. who are under the age of 30.
Have half of the class sit down. The people standing represent eligible
people under the age of 30 who actually register to vote.Have a little
less than half of those people sit down.
The remaining people who are standing represent the number of eligible
people under the age of 30 who voted in the last presidential election.
Only a third of the eligible voters under the age of 30 actually voted
in the last presidential election.
Ask people standing what they like to eat for lunch. Get a couple
of options. Have the people standing vote on which one they like best.
Ex: Pizza. Now tell them everyone is going to have pizza for lunch
every day for the rest of the year because these 6 people voted on
it, and decided it was so.
- Is it fair for those 6 people to decide what everyone is going
to have for lunch? Why/why not?
- Do they represent what everyone wants?
- How could the rest of the people who were sitting made a difference
in the election? A: If they had voted.
VI. Why should young people vote? See handout ("Why Bother?"). Imagine
the impact if all eligible people under the age of 30 organized and
voted. It could turn an election on its ear.
VII. Even if you can't vote, you can still make a difference. See handout
("How Do I Participate?").
1. Showing up is half of the battle for any organization.
2. You are smart, young, and full of energy. If you don't like how
something is being done, you can do it better. Do it.
3. Under the Open Meetings Act, you have the right to testify at any
school board meeting. Check with your school board to see when public
comment is given. Pick an issue, and let your elected officials know
how you feel. Other public meetings are also open to the public. Check
with each public body to see if they allow for public comment.
Activities:
1. Imagine that you are running for governor of Illinois.
A. Where would you visit in the state of Illinois?
B. Where would you stop to talk with people?
C. What issues would you focus on in your speeches and debates?
D. Who would you be most interested in pleasing if you were elected?
E. Why do you think that young Americans are not voting?
F. How would you increase young voter participation?
· Have students create their own "Take Action Guide" for increasing
young voter participation and send it to a public official. How would
your guide differ if you were targeting state, county or local public
officials? See the Citizen Advocacy Center's Take Action guide at
www.citizenadvocacycenter.org
2. Is there something about your school you want to change? Generate
a brainstorming list of issues that are a problem in the school. Pick
one or two to discuss.
A. Who are the decision-makers in the school/school district who are
in charge of that issue?
B. Why are they in charge of that issue?
C. To whom are they accountable? The superintendent? The voters?
D. Develop an action plan to make your voice heard on this issue. See
handout ("Political Action Plan").
1. The Op/Ed page is the most read section of the newspaper. While
it is generally more effective to work as a group, a single person
can have a great deal of effect.
E. Identify which freedoms of the First Amendment are involved with
each element of your action plan (i.e. Freedom of Speech, Press, Assemble,
Petition Government).
YOUNG VOTERS HANDOUTS
YOUNG VOTERS AND ELECTIONS TRUE OR FALSE?
You must be at least 21 years of age to vote.
Since 1971, more and more young voters (under the age of 24) have
voted each year.
Youth volunteerism is on the rise in social service settings (religious-based
services, soup kitchens, hospitals, schools, etc).
Youth volunteerism is on the rise in democracy-building settings
(volunteering with a political campaign, volunteering time on a political
cause).
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF YOUR GOVERNMENT?
Do you think that government should help families achieve “The American
Dream?”
Do you think that government impacts your life now?
Do you like how government impacts your life now?
What changes would you make in how government impacts your life?
How would you make those changes?
POLITICAL ACTION PLAN
Make some noise!
* Freedom of Expression is YOUR right.
Get media coverage.
* What audience are you trying to reach?
* How can you reach that audience?
* How can you get the media outlet you want to cover the story?
* What messages will work with the audience you are trying to reach?
Create.
* Letters, faxes, videos, emails, web sites, on-line discussion
groups
* Voters’ Guide
Write or Call.
* Letter to the Editor
* Your representatives
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
- Volunteer.
- Join a national or local organization.
- Petition
- Show up — represent your views, and hear the views of others to
find solutions to common problems.
- Give — time, money, clothing, ideas.
- Organize — if it isn’t being done well now, do it better.
- Protest.
- Lobby.
- Testify — school board, city council, and legislators all need
your input.
- Campaign.
- Register to Vote.
- Vote.
- Run for Office.
ISSUES FOR TODAY’S STUDENT
EDUCATION
- Quality of Education
- Disparity between rural, suburban, and urban schools.
- School /Student Safety
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Financial Aid
VIOLENCE
- Gun Violence
- Domestic Violence
- Child Abuse
MONEY
- Vote with your wallet.
- Minimum Wage
- Disparity in incomes between sexes/races
ENVIRONMENT
- Environmental Discrimination
- Clean Water
- Clean Air Act
CIVIL RIGHTS
- Hate Crimes
- Racial Profiling
- Equal Opportunity — Being judged on the “content of our character.”
WHY BOTHER?
* 30 million citizens age 30 and younger who were eligible to vote,
but who did not vote in 2000.
* 16 million were likely or potential voters.
* There are only 12,419,293 people in Illinois. * There are only 5,376,741
people in Cook County.
IMAGINE THE IMPACT!
©Copyright 2003 Citizen Advocacy Center. All rights reserved. No part
of this lesson plan may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior, written permission of the Citizen Advocacy Center.
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