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 Back to list | Project Spotlight | Find Out More
The government--whether it's in Washington, DC, in your state, or in your hometown--affects your life. By voting, people get to say what's important to them, and they say it straight to the politicians. In order for adults to vote in local, state and national elections, most states require them to 'register' as voters by signing up through their local election office. And that's where YOU come in!
Here's how you can ZOOMout the Vote! at home and get your grown-ups to register to vote:
- Make a list of everyone in your family who's 18 or older. Ask them if they're registered to vote.
- Print and make copies of the National Registration Form. You can find it on the Federal Election Commission's Web site. Just print the first 5 pages--that's the Form plus instructions for filling it out. Scroll through the rest to find special instructions for your state, including registration deadlines, and print those, too. (Note: This form is accepted everywhere except North Dakota, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. For more information on how to register in those states, scroll to the directions for those states.) Keep in mind that there will be many state and town elections before there is another national election. It's important to register grown-ups for those, too!
- Give a copy of the National Registration Form and instructions to every grown-up who isn't registered. Remind them of your state's registration deadline.
- Now the fun starts--remind them to send in the form! Our ZOOMout the Vote! Printables can help you! You'll need Adobe Systems' free Acrobat Reader software to view and print these pages. It's free, easy to install, and you only have to do it once.
- Say It with Signs: Print and color in the ZOOMout the Vote! Banner (PDF: 104k, 3 pages), Register to Vote! Banner (PDF: 92k, 3 pages), and Register to Vote! Signs (PDF: 220k, 3 pages). Hang them where your grown-ups will see them, like on the refrigerator, near the TV, by the phone, and next to mirrors.
- Make Your Mark: Print and color in the Bookmarks (PDF: 116k, 1 page) and Stickers & Buttons (PDF: 248k, 3 pages) that are about registration. Leave the bookmarks in their favorite books or magazines. Stick the stickers, magnets, and buttons on things like on the bathroom mirror, on the shampoo, on the milk carton, on the car steering wheel, on the TV, on the calendar. Be creative!
- Now that they're registered, make sure they vote! A few days before the Election start reminding your grown-ups to get to the polls to vote! Print, color, and post the Vote! Signs (PDF: 148k, 2 pages), Vote! Banner (PDF: 104k, 5 pages), and the Vote!-themed Bookmarks (PDF: 116k, 1 page) and Stickers & Buttons (PDF: 248k, 3 pages).
- You made a difference! By getting people to vote, you helped them have a say in their (and your) future. Remember to send us your ZOOMout the Vote! story and enter the number of hours you volunteered into our ZOOM Into Action Tally.
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Project Spotlight:
Voter Registration Drive! |
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Here's how you can ZOOMout the Vote in your community and hold a voter registration drive:
- Form a Voter Registration Team. Find an adult to work with you on your team and get lots of friends to join.
- Print and make copies of the National Registration Form. You can find it on the Federal Election Commission's Web site. Just print the first 5 pages--that's the Form plus instructions for filling it out. Scroll through the rest to find special instructions for your state and print those, too. (Note: This form is accepted everywhere except North Dakota, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. For more information on how to register in those states, scroll to the directions for those states.) Keep in mind that there will be many state and town elections before there is another national election. It's important to register grown-ups for those, too!
- Pick a date! Remember that most states have registration deadlines. Pick a date that gives grown-ups enough time to get their form in before your state's deadline.
- Pick a location to hold your drive. Think about where adults go: grocery stores, movies, malls, schools and after-school programs to pick up kids. Ask your adult team member to talk to an adult in charge of these places to get permission to set up a Voter Registration Table.
- Make signs and banners. Our ZOOMout the Vote! Printables can help. Print and color in the ZOOMout the Vote! Banner (PDF: 104k, 3 pages), Register to Vote! Banner (PDF: 92k, 3 pages), and Register to Vote! Signs (PDF: 220k, 3 pages), and use them to decorate your table and call attention to your registration drive.
- Make giveaways. Print and color in the Bookmarks (PDF: 116k, 1 page) and Stickers & Buttons (PDF: 248k, 3 pages). Give them to people who come by your table. And make sure you're wearing some of the buttons, too!
- Hold your registration drive. Have pens available so people can fill out their registration forms right away. Have envelopes filled out with the address of your state's election office, which you can find on the National Registration Form. Sell stamps to people who want them, and remind people to mail their completed forms when they get home.
- You made a difference! By getting people to register vote, you helped them have a say in their (and your) future. Remember to send us your ZOOMout the Vote! story and enter the number of hours you volunteered into our ZOOM Into Action Tally.
Visit
The PBS Kids Democracy Project
Visit an interactive town to learn how the government plays a role in your daily life. Step inside the voting booth and cast your vote about a campaign issue. Read a job description about the presidency and become President for the day!
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
Learn about government branches, citizenship, and how laws are made through informative articles and games.
Kids Voting USA
Check out the Kids Voting USA program for an online "Constitution Test" and a printable guide of election activities for you and your family.
Project Vote Smart
Find information about your local, state, and federal elections with candidate profiles and explanations of voting processes including Electoral College and primary elections.
Read
ZOOMout the Vote Guide
Learn why it's important to vote with our ZOOMout the Vote Guide (PDF: 816k, 16 pages, adobe acrobat required) and find ideas for getting the grown-ups in your life to register and vote. Includes easy directions for organizing a voter registration drive.
If I Were President
By Catherine Stier
Albert Whitman & Company Spend the day as President of the United States, but beware! As fun as it all may look and sound, the President is responsible for making many complicated decisions. But that's no reason why you can't dream of becoming the President... someday!
America Votes: How Our President Is Elected
Linda Granfield
Kids Can Press Ltd. In quick, fun-to-read chapters, you can read and learn everything there is to know about elections--from the history of the political button to the problem with certain types of ballots. Fun facts are sprinkled throughout.
Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts (2nd edition)
Syl Sobel
Barron's Educational Series, Inc. Presidential elections have rules all their own. This book explains the Electoral College and answers the question, "What if something happens to the President?" Lots of interesting presidential election rules, trivia, and facts are included.
Vote!
Eileen Christelow
Clarion Books Two pet dog volunteers watch (and participate) as two candidates for mayor attend rallies, voters weigh the candidates and the issues, and candidates raise money for their campaigns. Along the way, they learn why voting is important, the history of voting rights, and about the election process.
Class President
Johanna
Morrow Junior Books Fifth graders need to select their class president, and things don't turn out as they expect. The best leader is not the most popular classmate or the classmate who is most eager to win the election.
Robert Takes a Stand
Barbara Seuling
Cricket Books Committed to the cause of saving endangered animals, Robert learns that taking a stand can be difficult. Meanwhile, he agrees to help his friend, Paul, run for class president. Although they have some misunderstandings about the campaign process, they learn the ropes quickly enough. You will, too!
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