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24 million young voters nationwide cast their votes during the 2016 election.

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Youth turnout in the 2018 election was by far the highest level of participation among youth in the past quarter century.

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…SO WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE VOTERS?

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BRIEF HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS

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The fight for the right to vote in the United States: Ted-ED Video�

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Current Voting Rights

  • Some states permit those convicted of a felony to vote and others do not. Some states allow incarcerated citizens to vote, some after they finish probation, and in some states only a governor or court may restore suffrage. Include your state’s restrictions here.
  • Citizens of Washington, D.C. cannot vote for U.S. Congress.
  • Even though laws change, many barriers remain to exercising the right to vote. There are many instances of voter suppression.
  • Immigration status is a barrier: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented residents cannot vote and permanent residents (green card holders) cannot vote in federal elections.

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��SO WHY DOES VOTING MATTER…��…TO YOU?��

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Write your reflections:

  • As a potential professional in the field of insert field here , the policies that elected officials develop impact me because __________.
  • Why might someone take voting for granted? Or choose not to vote?
  • Voting is an essential element of democracy because…
  • How much do you agree with the following statement? “Being concerned with national, state, and local issues is an important responsibility for everybody.”
  • Why is voting important:
    • To the campus/community?
    • To the state? To the nation?
    • Globally/for international relations?

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Create small groups 2-4 people and share your reflections.

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  • What comments surprised or resonated with you?
  • What is the relationship between being a voter and the content we discuss in our class?