(30-40 minutes)

OBJECTIVE
Students vote in a simulated polling place to become familiar with the voting process.

MATERIALS
Paper for ballots; material for a ballot box and voting booth; Polling Place Diagram handout

• Choose an issue that will impact the students rather quickly. For instance, vote on what to have for homework that night or something fun like having a 20-minute break one day or two 10-minute breaks over two days.
• Prepare ballots or figure out a way to vote on blank pieces of paper.
• Prepare a simple ballot box and voting booth.
• Arrange a corner of the classroom to resemble a polling place as shown in the diagram.

• Explain the duties of the precinct workers and assign students to play the roles of the workers. Seat them as shown in the diagram.
• Give one of the judges the registration sheet derived from the registration simulation.
• Give the clerks lined paper to record the voters as they come in.
• Hand the ballots to the other judge.
• Seat the marshal by the ballot box.
• Ask a student to demonstrate by casting the first vote.
• Let each student go through the process of voting.
• Instruct the marshal to tally and announce the vote.
• Implement the vote.

• Who can go into a polling place?
• Have you ever gone with your parents? If so, what was it like?
• How do adults know where to go to vote?
• If they don't know, how can they find out?
• Can everybody vote?
• Have you voted at the Kids Voting booth before? What was it like?
• Where will you go to cast your Kids Voting vote this election?
• Are there any rules in a polling place?
• What do you think are good manners for a polling place?

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