5.3: Local Government and the Electoral Process

Bell Ringer

8-Up

Step 1: In the space provided on your handout, write down three qualities  and why they are important.

Step 2: Form groups of 2 and have the pairs discuss possible answers, for 2 minutes. Whittle the list down to 3 answers.

Step 3: Pair up with another pair so there are 4 people in your group. Share your 3 responses from step 2. Whittle them down to 2 responses. 

Step 4:  Pair up with another pair so there are 8 people in your group. Share your 2 responses from step 3. Whittle them down to 2 responses.

Step 5: Go back to your seats so we can talk about it as a class.

Once you have two large groups left, work together as a class to whittle down the list of responses to a single response.

Through the process of consensus, were we able to determine the most important quality?

Does it make sense for a community leader to have only one quality?

What qualitites do you think are important for an elected official to have?

Vocabulary

Ballot - a piece of paper used for voting that lists the names of the candidates

Campaigns - Candidates share goals they wish to achieve if they get elected.

Candidate - A person who wants to be chosen for a job in the government, like a mayor or councillor, and asks people to vote for them in an election.

Citizens - A member of a community, city, or country who has rights and responsibilities, like voting, following laws, and helping others.

Democratic Process - Citizens vote to elect representatives.

Election - A process where people vote to choose leaders or make decisions for their community or country.

Electoral Process - The steps people follow to vote in an election, like registering to vote, learning about the candidates, and casting a ballot on voting day.

Eligible - having the right to do or obtain something

Majority Vote: The candidate with the most votes wins.

Nominate -  identify a person as a possible candidate for an elected position

We will be running a mock election to vote for a mayor and city council members. To begin, we will work on gaining an understanding of the events leading up to an election. Following this, we will complete the voting portion of this mock election. 

When we have an election called, it is important to get to know the qualities a candidate possesses and the issues they wish to support or address.

Step 1: Election Called

The local government announces an election is coming up. At this point, citizens begin to look for further information on each candidate and learn about the issues they wish to address.

Step 1: Candidate Information

Citizens will be provided with candidate campaigning information. This might be on a website, on a flyer in the mail, the local news paper, or even door canvassing. 

Councillor Candidates

We will need 5 people who can take on the roll of each of the councillor candidates

Each of the candidates are going to go to another space to write an introducgtory speech. This speech should be 1 - 2 minutes. 

While these candidates are out of the class, we will generate a list of questions to ask the candidates. Record these questions on a sticky note or scrap piece of paper. 

Sample Questions for a Local Debate:

1. "How would you improve public transportation in our community?"

2. "What is your plan for making our parks safer and more accessible?"

3. "How will you ensure taxes are spent wisely on community services?"

While the candidates are preparing their speach, we are going to generate a list of questions that you have for your candidates.

The process we follow on election day differs depending on where you might be voting. In Alberta, it is fairly similar no matter the level of government. For our purpose, we will be following this format:

Step 3: Election

1. Voting Preparation (5 minutes):

Prepare a Ballot sheet for each student to fill out, with spaces for mayoral candidates and city council candidates.

1. • Example Ballot:

   • Mayor: (circle one) Sam Roberts, Maria Gomez, David Lee

   • City Council: (circle up to 3 candidates) Olivia Nguyen, Ethan Park, Grace Thompson, Jordan White, Ava Clark

2. Voting (10 minutes):

   • Set up a “polling station” in your classroom, where students will go one by one to vote for their mayor and city council candidates.

   • Ensure each student fills out their ballot privately and hands it to the election officer (a student volunteer or teacher).

3. Voting Procedure: (10 minutes)

   • Students will go to the ballot box.

   • Each student should only vote for one mayoral candidate and up to three city council candidates.

   • Place ballots in the box after voting.

4. Counting the Votes (5 minutes):

   • Assign a small group of students to help count the votes for mayor and city council.

   • Tally the results on a board or chart so the class can follow the process.

   • Announce the results for mayor first, then the top 3 city council candidates.

5. Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes):

   • After the results are announced, ask the students:

   • How did you decide who to vote for?

   • Why is it important to have a local government and to vote for the people who will represent you?

   • What would you do if you were elected mayor or city council member?

   • Have a brief discussion about the importance of elections and how they shape the community.

Underline the words in your notes that are underlined in the following information.

Election process

Phase 1

1. Election Called

The local government announces an election is coming up. 

2. Candidate Nominations

A person can be nominated to run for a local authority position if:

1. They are eligible to vote

2. Are a member of that jurisdiction for at least 6 consecutive months

3. Completes the appropriate paperwork

4. Pay a deposit (if established in a bylaw of that community)

5. Will accept the office if elected

6. The form has been signed by at least 5 people who are eligible to vote in that election.

3. 
   

4. Candidate Information

Citizens will be provided with candidate campaigning information. This might be on a website, on a flyer in the mail, the local news paper, or other forms of communication. 

3. Public Meetings

   1. Rallies and speeches/meet and greets - informal meeting to interact directly with voters

   2. Debates - Events where candidates discuss/debate viewpoints on issues or public concerns

   3. Canvassing Events - door-to-door visits to take with constituents.

   4. Community Forums - Sometimes called “town hall meetings” where different groups/organizations can speak about their concerns or issues.

4. Poll Station Information

Information on where you can vote and what you need to bring with you for identification is mailed to you. 

With so many people having different work/home schedules, it an be challenging to vote at the designated polling station on the day of the election. There are usually advanced polling stations for those who are not available on the day of the election.

Big Idea Summary:

• Why is it important to consider different perspectives before making a decision?

• How do elections impact a community, and why is it important to participate in them?

• Now that we have gone through the process of an election, do you believe it is better to have a voting structure the same as we use in Canada or do you believe the lottery system, similar to the structure used in Ancient Athens, is more effective?  Explain your thoughts. 

5.4: Voting Eligibility