What Is Voter Suppression?
One of the reasons I started The Civics Center was to help high schools get the resources they need to teach students about democracy and how our governmental institutions should work. One issue that can harm our democracy and that needs greater understanding is voter suppression.
5 Steps To Promote Voter Registration In Your High School
With the Spring semester now under way, we’re rolling out new resources to help promote voter registration in school communities around the country. Does your school have a voter registration drive scheduled this semester? Here are 5 easy ways to get started.
What I Learned About Holding An Effective Registration Drive in a CO High School (Hint: there are special rules!)
Last semester, I volunteered to help with a local high school voter registration drive. I want to share my story and what I learned in the hopes that many other people will get involved in this effort this semester.
Happy Belated Temperance and Good Citizenship Day!
In Washington state, the long road toward establishing pre-registration -- which will be available to all state 16- and 17-year-olds on July 1st this year -- was in large part paved by the tenacity of a social studies teacher-turned-legislator.
California Teen Pre-registration Represents Just 13% of 16- and 17-year-olds
California experienced a surge in teen voter pre-registration in the month before the November 2018 election, but only 13% of 16- and 17-year-olds have taken advantage of this opportunity to register to vote before their 18th birthday, according to an analysis by The Civics Center released today. Please read our press release for more information.
New Year's Resolutions: A comparison
2019 is on its way. Are you wondering how your life can change in the coming year? Wondering whether to commit to weight loss or to promoting youth civic engagement? It’s a hard choice. How will you feel as you are putting each resolution into practice? Let’s compare.
Teaching with stories
“I don’t like politics, and I’m not going to vote.” It was October of this year. I was spending countless hours focused on youth voter registration and turnout. So a lot of things went through my mind when I heard a report about a young high school teacher who, in the weeks before Election Day, told her students, that she didn’t like politics, and she wasn’t going to vote.
Texas needs to walk the walk
The Texas Secretary of State says he wants to improve voter registration rates among young adults by promoting voter registration in high schools. That’s going to be hard because Texas is pretty far behind when it comes to adopting rules that encourage youth voting.
Registering students to vote in Texas? Do this first!
The next election may seem like a long time from now, but the best way to establish a successful program of high school voter registration is to have a student-led drive twice each school year, one in the fall and another in the spring.
On Election Eve, it's not too late to volunteer!
It’s now less than 12 hours before the first polls open for the 2018 Midterm Election. Have you already voted? Do you have a plan for tomorrow? Are you not able to vote this election? If you answered yes to any of these questions, there are still ways you can make an impact!
Demasiado joven para votar, pero no demasiado joven para preocuparse
Algunos estudiantes del último año de secundaria ya tienen 18 años o cumplirán 18 años para el 6 de noviembre. Las elecciones a mitad de legislatura serán su primera oportunidad de votar.
Are your students prepared for Election Day?
The Midterm Election is on Tuesday! This will be the first opportunity to vote for some seniors at your school.
Does your school hold mock elections?
In October, 60,000 middle and high school students across California voted in a mock election that mirrored the upcoming general election on November 6.
Too young to vote, but not too young to care.
Some high school seniors are already 18 or will turn 18 by November 6. The midterm elections will be their first opportunity to vote. Most high school students, however, won’t yet be 18 by November. That doesn’t mean they don’t care, and that doesn’t mean they can’t have a real impact.
The Civics Center on KCAL9.
Check out The Civics Center’s recent feature on local Los Angeles CBS news station, KCAL 9.
Get active.
In California, if you have not voted in four years, you can be designated as “inactive.”
Part Five: 5-5=Vote!
Reason #5: It’s not effective. Some young people think voting doesn’t matter because voting is not an effective way of creating change.
Part Four: 5-5=Vote!
Reason #4: I move all the time. Studies show young adults move a lot, an average of 6 times by the time they’re 30 years old.
Part Three: 5-5=Vote!
Reason #3: I don’t know how. Students hear lots of voices telling them to register to vote and vote.