VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE Voting is a right that not everyone in the world has It's important to vote once you're old enough
ELECTIONS WHAT ARE THEY Chapter One Imagine you’re with some friends You want to go to a movie but you can’t agree on which one You decide to take a vote Friends raise their hands for different movies In the end the movie with the most raised hands or votes wins Voting is an easy way to find out what most of the people in a group want It’s also an important part of being a citizen Types of Elections When people vote on who will be in charge of something it’s called an election You may have voted in a student council election at your school Elections are held for many of the positions in local state and national governments Understanding how elections work can help you make smart decisions when it’s time to cast your vote There are several types of elections Some examples are primary elections general elections and special elections In a primary election members of a certain group vote to choose the person who will be that group’s candidate in the larger general election that follows The winner of the general election takes office for a certain amount of time called a term 5
Candidates work hard to win the votes of people in their communities For example US citizens vote for a president every four years the Members of US House of Representatives serve for two year terms Senators in the United States are elected every six years Sometimes a person can’t serve for a full term When that happens a special election is often held to fill the job until the next general election Learning About Candidates Being an informed citizen is an important part of voting in elections It’s good to learn as much as possible about the candidates running for office another word for a government position before Election Day Voters have the opportunity to learn more about different candidates by visiting their websites and social media accounts or by attending events called town hall meetings and rallies They can learn about a candidate’s political party their background and their plans for the future before they exercise their right to vote 6
VOTE FOR SMITH FOR SMITH PRESIDENT School elections teach students about voting Who Votes Voting has been around for a long time in many different civilizations but not everyone has always been able to vote In the past only certain people could vote in elections For a long time white men were the only people who could vote in the United States African Americans Native Americans women and other people spent many years fighting for the right to vote To vote today you need only to be a US citizen and at least 18 years old Before voting a person must register with the local board of elections Registering lets the government know who you are and where you live That way you can vote in the right city Fast Fact A 1924 law gave Native Americans the right to vote states didn’t allow them to vote until though some much later 7
