Voting

This deliberation has students explore state voting and registration laws across the country and compare them to their own state’s laws. Topics included in this deliberation relate to voter registration, early voting, voting by mail and voter identification policies. Students will use this information to address the deliberation question: Should your state modify its voter registration laws and methods for submitting a ballot?

The Supreme Court’s decision of Shelby County v. Holder (2013) eliminated a major element of the landmark Voting Rights Act. Ongoing Congressional efforts include modifications and expansions of this legislation, notably in 2021’s proposed John Lewis Voting Rights Act and Freedom to Vote Act. Using the arguments surrounding this debate, students will examine the historical and contemporary role of the federal government in state elections to determine if the federal government should regulate states’ election procedures. Students will use this information to address the deliberation question: Should the federal government regulate states’ election procedures?

This lesson looks at recent surveys and political polling about voter participation and seeks to answer the question "Why don't eligible voters vote?" Students will identify factors that affect voter participation and develop possible strategies to improve voter turnout in U.S. elections.