Activities About Elections

Helping others register to vote or get to the polls are rewarding ways to participate in democracy.

Election time can be exciting, whether you're part of a campaign for office or you're simply following the candidates and are eager to see who wins a particular seat. Getting active yourself in elections can also be rewarding, particularly because voting is a unifying act that people of all political beliefs can share in. Depending on your age and your interest in the process, there are several activities about elections that might interest you.

Help Others to Register

Help 18-year-olds at schools register to vote by holding voter registration drives on campus. Your local League of Women Voters or even your county's Supervisor of Elections office may have other opportunities for you to help register new voters of all ages.

Volunteer at the Polls

If you've ever wondered about the poll workers you see at your local precinct on election day, find out how they got involved by contacting your local League of Women Voters branch. The organization usually coordinates poll volunteers with the Supervisor of Elections office. You'll likely have to get to the polls a couple of hours early and stay until after the polls close to make sure all ballots are accounted for. Jobs include instructing voters about voting machines or the procedures for casting ballots, signing in voters and handing them ballots, and being available to answer questions or staying in touch with the Supervisor's office in case of problems.

Participate in Meet-the-Candidates Events

If volunteering isn't your thing, but you're paying close attention to the election, attend candidate debates or meet-the-candidates functions. Sometimes the best way to get to know whether a particular candidate deserves your vote is to see him up close. You'll also find it interesting to see how various candidates alter their style, depending on their audience. And if you see a candidate and become inspired, you may want to work on his campaign.

Be a Campaign Volunteer

Working on a campaign can be exhausting and thrilling at the same time. But if you're volunteering for someone you feel strongly about, you'll be energized knowing you may have a part to play in whether she is elected. Volunteer jobs range from stuffing envelopes and answering phones to arranging campaign stops, going door-to-door, and helping with all the other details that go along with the day-to-day business of running for office. And if you volunteer for a candidate who is elected, the next time she is in your community meeting with constituents, she'll be likely to listen to what you say because you helped put her in office and she knows and trusts you.

References

• First Call 211: Youth Volunteer Project Ideas
• League of Women Votes of Orange County: Volunteer Opportunities
• University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration: My Experience as a Campaign Volunteer