Let Us Vote!

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: Why would teenagers want to vote in local elections?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence: 

• What specific election did the New Jersey teens featured in the article want to vote in and why? (The New Jersey teens in the article wanted to vote in  school board elections because they wanted more input in decisions made about their school.)

• What arguments have people made for or against lowering the voting age? (People have argued for lowering the voting age because doing so has resulted in an increase in civic understanding and engagement, and the decisions elected officials make often affect teens, in the present or in the future. Opponents, however, say most teens don’t know enough about the issues to be informed voters. They also point to scientific findings that show that 16-year-olds’ decision-making skills aren’t fully developed.)

• In the last paragraph, Breanna Campbell says, “[Voting] is a powerful way to shape the world around us and make our democracy more vibrant and inclusive.” What does she mean? (She means that voting allows people to select officials who will enact policies they want, and gives diverse groups the opportunity to see themselves represented in government.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Take a Stand. Have students use it to plan and then write a persuasive essay on the issue discussed in the article.

4. Writing Prompt
Write a brief essay about a policy you’d like to see enacted or changed at your school. How could you go about making this change?

5. Classroom Debate
Should the voting age for local elections be lower?

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and the Analyze the Photo and Organizing Ideas skill sheets to practice visual analysis and outlining.