Warm-Up
Put students into small group and ask them to discuss their responses to the previous lesson on voting by mail. Will you, or would you cast your ballot in person, or by mail? What are the reasons for your choice?
Review Key Terms
Mail-in ballot, polling place, poll worker, City or County Commissioners,
satellite election office, drop box
Authentic Performance Task/Whole Class Instruction
Explain that over the next 2-3 days, we will learn the various ways that voters can cast their ballot and students can make a plan (real or hypothetical) to vote. On Day 1 students will learn how to apply for a mail-in ballot and several possible ways of returning a completed mail-in ballot. On Day 2 students will learn how to find their polling place and make a plan to vote on Election Day. Those who aren’t yet eligible to vote will make a plan to help their older family members cast their ballot. Eligible students can apply to be a paid poll worker. All students will be asked to make a social media post (real or hypothetical) about why it’s important to vote, or why they plan to vote themselves.
- Important: Eligible voters will have the opportunity to actually apply for a mail-in ballot. If they choose to vote in person, they should not submit a mail-in ballot application.
- Important: This lesson should be done at least two weeks before the election to ensure that eligible voters can complete the process before the deadline.
- Check for prior knowledge: Ask: If you vote by mail, why is it important to apply early?
- View the image: Flatten the Ballot Request Curve
- Is this a graph based on data or research from a reputable source? What idea does the image convey? What is the purpose of it? Do you agree with the purpose of the image?
- The image is not an actual graph, but an image in the style of a graph to convey an idea and prompt action by the viewer—in short, it’s propaganda. Have a discussion on the purpose and value of propaganda.
Asynchronous Reading/Homework
Philly is about to get $10 million for mail ballot drop boxes, early voting, and raises for poll workers (source: Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer, August 26, 2020 - PDF copy used with permission from the Philadelphia Inquirer)
Discussion Questions
- The author states, “...in November the city will essentially have to run two elections, at the same time, on an unprecedented scale....” What is meant by this statement and what does it mean for voters?
- Define “satellite election office’ and “drop box.” What will they allow voters to do?
- What problems were revealed by the June 2020 Primary Election “stress test?”
- What arguments might supporters and opponents of drop boxes and satellite election offices raise?
- Is there evidence that supports fears of widespread coordinated voter fraud?
- What security measures should be put in place to allay such fears?
