Registration and Voting: Government Class Edition

Registration and Voting: Government Class Edition

Two teachers help seniors register to vote during class

Story by Elle Polychronis // Design by Jeneta Nwosu // Photos by Nick Drexler

Students are always required to take a so there’s always something going on.” they weren’t 18 because students could one-semester government course to Caraway said the class was analyzing vote in smaller elections throughout graduate, but current seniors are getting both presidential campaigns, including the year. The Government teachers will to experience the class in a unique way discussion on the presidential debates. keep the registration cards until two this year with the upcoming election. Both teachers encouraged their months before the student turns 18

Social studies teachers Chad Coffey students to register to vote, even if before mailing in the cards for them. and William Caraway both teach these Registration for voting was publicly courses. The class helps educate students announced on the school announcements about the current government, how it for weeks in September. Monday, Oct. 5 was works and how we contribute to it. the last day to register to vote for the election. They both teach their students about “As we get closer to the actual election current events and the process of date, we’ll unpack what you’ll need voting and voter registration. to bring, what to expect and go

“I think the biggest way through the process,” Caraway that we have changed said. “We’ll show them a what we’re doing is sample ballot, get them that we are doing prepared, make sure a weekly recap that they tell the of the political polling location and events,” Coffey identify where it is.” said. “Mondays, for Additionally, the class the most part, we’re discusses current issues. looking back at what “We are talking about happened the previous how the election won’t be week. We’re referencing announced until a few weeks the upcoming election later after all the voting is done almost every day in class.” because of the mail-in ballots,”

The 2020 election is Senior Lexi Perry said. “I think that I uniquely significant because of will do mail-in ballots because that’s the outbreak of coronavirus just a lot easier, but I know both changing the political of my parents always go in person.” landscape months before The government teachers show the election. However, students what an election means election years have always from an analysis standpoint and been special for the class. real-word examples, so students

“Election years are great see the impact their vote can have. for the U.S. government “If you start voting at your first election, classes because we have a you are more likely to then be a lifelong unit dedicated to campaigns voter,” Coffey said. “We are just really and political parties trying to stress to the students that every year,” Caraway said. they can make a difference, and saying to “We’ve basically got general vote in every election you are eligible for.” elections every four years and mid-terms every two years, FEATURES 21