(30 minutes)

OBJECTIVE
Students simulate registration to become familiar with the process.

MATERIALS
Voter Registration Application handout; Application Instructions handout; Kids Voting Registration Form handout; lined paper

• Download the national mail voter registration form and instructions from www.lwv.org and make a copy for each student, or use the copy and instruction sheet provided.
• Copy a Kids Voting Registration Form for each student to use at the polls.
• Fold a piece of lined paper down the middle and ask your students to sign their names on the left side. (This will act as a registration sheet for the voting simulation activity.)

• Help your students fill out the forms and registration sheet reminding them that this is only a simulation.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discuss questions that arise from the activity plus the following:

• Why are registration requirements different in each state? Should they be? Or should there be a federal law?
• What criteria do you think is essential for registration?
• Why might some people be reluctant to register?
• Are changes being made in state registration policies? What?
• As of the summer of 1999, the California State Assembly had passed a bill allowing registration on voting day. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
• Could you influence anyone to register? How?

MORE!
Go to www.rockthevote.org for information on volunteering to help citizens register. Information is available for organizing a registration day at school for parents as well as request forms for stickers, posters, etc.