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Learn About Civic Engagement on National Voter Registration Day

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by Logan Brody • Published on • Last modified on
Education

Tuesday, September 15th is National Voter Registration Day across the United States of America.

First observed in 2012, this holiday celebrates civic participation in America’s democratic process and provides greater voter registration opportunities for people across our country — especially those who may not otherwise register to vote. Volunteers and organizations nationwide distribute ballot initiative information, help citizens register for the first time or update their registration information, explain early voting options and more. Over 6.5 million voters have registered to vote on this holiday to date!

National Voter Registration Day is also a great opportunity to introduce the topic of civic participation and elections to young children, while giving greater context and insight to young adults. Keep scrolling for activities, videos, discussion prompts and lesson plans to teach about the importance of voting, voters' rights across the nation, and how those rights have changed and evolved over the decades.

Did you know, according to U.S. Census data from 2020, as many as 1 in 4 eligible Americans aren’t registered to vote. Don’t wait — register to vote this September!

For adults and teens over the age of 18, explore this County Boards of Election Roster for contact information and local enrollment statistics in your county. And visit the New York State Voting Information webpage to review required voter qualifications, how and when to register, and to download your own Voter Registration Form.

Jump to article sections:

Civic Participation & Voting
The Youth Vote
Activities, Games & More

Learn About Civic Participation & Voting

Grades Pre K-K

Queen Sara Explains Voting | Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

Queen Sara and King Friday want to put a new piece of playground equipment in the playground, but they can only choose one – a swing or a slide. So, they explain the process of voting to Daniel Tiger and his friends and ask them to stop, think and choose before voting on the one they’d like.

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Grades 6-12

We The Voters Collection

Before the 2016 Election, PBS Education partnered with We The Voters, a nonpartisan digital project featuring short films to activate voters across the country. The films and accompanying lesson plans, now edited to be useful for any election season, provide a fresh, engaging perspective on democracy, elections, governance, and debating.

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Grades pre k-5

How to Talk to Children About Politics

Talking to children about voting, politics, and civic engagement can feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips on how to help kids understand how to be participants in creating positive change.

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Grades 6-12

Should We Make Voting Mandatory? | America From Scratch

Imagine being required to vote by penalty of law. Sound a little extreme? Maybe. But for other countries around the world, it’s a reality, and it helps get people to the polls. Meanwhile, in the U.S., only 55 percent of eligible people cast a vote for president in 2016. As we question what our country would look like if we started from scratch, host Toussaint Morrison explores the possibility of mandatory voting.

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Grades 6-12

History of U.S. Voting Rights | Things Explained

Who can vote today looked a lot different from those who could vote when the United States was first founded. This video covers the history of voting rights, including women’s suffrage, Black disenfranchisement, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the various methods American voters can cast their ballots today.

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The Importance of the Youth Vote

Grades 6-8

NYS Youth Vote | NY&

Explore the importance of youth voter participation and the basics of voter registration in New York State with a video excerpt from the WMHT series NY&. Boost learning with extension activities that require students to research and summarize a local or state candidate’s political platform or create a colorful poster to inspire young people to register (or preregister) to vote.

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Grades 6-12

How Can We Get More Young People to Vote? | Above the Noise

Voting is a really important part of the democratic process. We all know this, but in reality, many people don’t vote. That is especially true for younger generations who historically have had very low voter turnout rates in the U.S. This is kind of a big deal because younger people have a lot at stake in most elections. So, why don’t young people vote as much as older people? Find out in this Above the Noise episode.

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Activities, Games & More

Grades pre k-k

The Election Problem Video | Peg + Cat

Peg and Cat are holding an election to see who can get the most votes to be in charge of the chickens while the farmer goes to market. In this video, your child can watch and count along as the chickens vote for their favorite candidate.

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Grades pre k-3

I Voted: Hobbies – Coloring Page and Activity

You, your family members, and your friends have different interests and hobbies. Host an election and ask members of your family to vote for their favorite.

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Grades pre k-4

9 Picture Books About Voting and Elections

It’s National Voter Registration Day! These books can help you jump-start a conversation with your kids about voting, democracy, citizenship, and equality.

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Grades 9-12

FRONTLINE: How Voting Laws Have Changed

Examine data about the voting rights laws that most impact Americans’ access to the ballot box and how they’ve changed across the country in recent years, in this interactive from FRONTLINE: Ballot Watch. Voting laws influence who can vote and when and how they cast their ballots. This interactive provides a state-by-state analysis of voting laws as they pertain to early voting, felons, absentee voting, and voter ID requirements. It compares the situation in 2010, when many states began introducing more restrictive voter bills, to that in 2014.

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For even more games and educational resources for young learners, go to the Let’s Vote! Talking to Children About Voting Collection on PBS KIDS for Parents.