Can you remember the first time you voted? How did it feel? Did you feel like your vote could change the world? Well, if you can answer yes to any of the questions above then come journey with us through our book America Votes, How our President is Elected and take a closer look at some of the important figures in history that helped make voting a vital role in the lives of many Americans. Before the Civil War, some northern states allowed some free African American men to vote, but the vast majority of voters were white men. After the war ended the states passed the Fifteenth Amendment which grants rights to all men regardless of race, color and previous condition of servitude.
It’s important for children to understand that they have to wait until they are eighteen to vote, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t have fun and experience voting within their classrooms and homes. Did you know that many states give students under the age of eighteen the chance to cast a ballot, similar to the official one, through the nonpartisan organization Kids Voting USA? Don’t worry we didn’t know either, but now we do. Elections aren’t boring and neither is voting. Voting should be an enjoyable experience for all. Voicing your opinion for something you believe in should make you feel great. This book is a good book to introduce to students in Fourth grade using standard SS4G4.b. The student will explain the importance of Americans sharing certain central democratic benefits and principles, both personal and civic. Explain the necessity obeying reasonable laws/rules voluntarily, and explain why it is important for citizens in a democratic society to participate in public, (civic) life (staying informed, voting, volunteering, and communicating with public officials).
Your right to vote is protected by the Constitution of the United States – no one can deny you the right to vote because of your race, religious beliefs, or sex.
