How to Vote in an Election while Bringing the Kids Along

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By bookmom
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For a parent, voting in an election can be a daunting experience if you have to bring along your kids. You have to drag them to a polling place, wait in that long line, then they have to not run amuck while you actually cast your vote. There's nothing to look at or for them to do. It is one of the more challenging things to do with children, but absolutely important. You can remember in time to arrange for an absentee ballot, or you can get lucky, and voting day can hit your child's preschool day or your husband is around to tag team with the kids outside. For most of us, sooner or later we find ourselves wondering if our voting responsibility as a citizen is really worth the horror show. Well, you know that it is. And voting with children in tow can be done with a minimum of fuss. All it takes is the right attitude and advance planning.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Young children
A way to contain them such as a stroller or wagon.
Current voter's registration card
Toys, snacks, etc.
Paper and pen.

Step 1

The first step to a pleasant voting experience is research. The more you can do ahead of time, the less child goodwill you will eat up floundering around on the day. Make sure you know where your voter's registration card is. Most states will let you use your driver's license if you can't find it; but you should know for sure that's okay.
Step 2

Create your cheat sheet. The League of Women Voters puts out a voter's pamphlet that can be picked up at your local library. You can also access this online. Have a piece of paper in front of you and read through the pamphlet and mark your choices. Even if you are very familiar with the election, this will give you the order and often there will be referendums or obscure positions that you need to decide about. Make sure you jot down the positions as well; your district may not vote on everything in the pamphlet. To go through the pamphlet thoroughly may take a couple hours so set aside a nap or after bed time to work on it. DO NOT LOSE YOUR NOTES.
Step 3

Find out exactly where you are going and how to get there. Sometimes states do funky things, such as send the Republicans one place and Democrats somewhere else for a primary, or open new polling places as the population changes. The League of Women Voters website (see resources) can help with this.
Step 4

Plan your day. It is wise to get there early for both the possible line and your children's temperament. Kids are usually better behaved earlier in the day. You also need a suitable reward for good behavior. Lunch at McDs? An excursion to the park? Probably something desirable and active. They will be potentially sitting a long time.
Step 5

The day before, prep your kids. If they are old enough you may want to have a limited discussion about voting and candidates. At the very least they need to know you are going somewhere special and it's very important. Be honest and say that it probably won't be much fun for them, but afterwards you will go to _____ (fill in blank) if they are good.
Step 6

Pack each a backpack of toys and activities. The kind they could play with in the stroller or wagon. Color books or those reusable doodle pads with the pens attatched...action figures, cars, small dolls ... your kids should help you select the toys, but leave the ones with lots of pieces to get lost at home.
Step 7

Bring snacks that take a while to eat like goldfish crackers or Cheerios. Fruit snacks will be gone in 30 seconds.
Step 8

On election day at breakfast, quiz them on what is going to happen during voting. Go through each step again, waiting in line, the registering, the voting itself. Remind them of the fun reward afterwards for good behavior.
Step 9

Make sure you have everything with you: Notes, stroller, registration, kid's backpacks, snacks. Diapers should be changed and potty issues taken care of before leaving the house (unless it is a long way, then you need to hit a bathroom when you arrive BEFORE you vote ... and hope there is one.)
Step 10

When you arrive at the polling place, kids get into the stroller/wagon with their backpacks. If they are contained to begin with, they are less likely to run around. You'll be in a line or voting, and won't be able to chase them. Push it into the polling place and get in line. If the children start getting squirrely, remind them of their activities and/or offer them snacks. Engage them in conversation and pull out what they brought. You may need to get them started by drawing a bit with them or suggesting a scenario for their toys.
Step 11

Vote. Because you have your cheat sheet, it should only take about five to 10 minutes.
Step 12

Congratulations! You made it. Praise your children and proceed to their reward.

Comments

bookmom said

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on 10/23/2008 To the comment fivehorizons left, I don't know how old your children are, but mine are 2 and 5. The idea of voting may be interesting, but the actual process isn't. It's a lot of choosing names off a computer or ballot that the child won't be able to see anyway. Last time we voted, we did go early and still had to put up with the lines and the voting itself took about 10 minutes, which is a long time for a child to just sit there.

fivehorizons said

on 10/21/2008 I strongly disagree with the tone of this article. I don't think bringing kids along while you vote is a hassle or an inconvenience. In fact, it can be a fun and educational experience for them. I plan to bring my son along when I vote this year, and I'm sure he will find it interesting. I am also voting early so I don't have to worry about him getting bored standing in long lines.