Vocabulary
Privilege: n., a thing or a right that is given to you
The voting booth: n., the private place where you vote
Make your voice heard: expression, to give your opinion
Funding: n., financial support
A good wage: n., expression, fair and acceptable payment for a job
Job security: n., expression, being sure of keeping your job
Polling place: n., where you go to vote (the public place)
Candidates: n., people who are running for election
Factual: adj., ideas based on truth
Trusted experts: n., people who tell the truth and whose opinions you value
Elections… ballots… nominees… what does all this mean for you?
Voting in America is a right, a privilege, and – always – extremely important.
This document explains it all to you:
Click to access 2024_NFY_Voting-Guide.pdf
Why?
You may feel that you do not have much money or power, but in the voting booth, your choice is equal to everyone else’s. As an American citizen, you are able to make your voice heard about what really matters to you.
Reasons to Vote:
■ You care about clean air and clean water. The government makes laws that can protect or hurt the environment.
■ You have family members in another country who want to move to the U.S. The government makes rules about who can move here and how easy it is.
■ You are in school or have children in school. You want the school to provide a good education. The government makes rules about teacher training, programs, and testing. It decides what kinds of programs receive funding.
■ You are looking for a job that offers a good wage and job security. The government guides the economy. That affects how easy it is to find a job, how much companies can pay workers, and what benefits companies must provide.
Where?
On Election Day, people vote in different sorts of places. Your voting site might be a school, a church, a community center, a fire station, or another neighborhood building. You must go to the correct polling place. The place you go to vote will depend on where you live.
After you register to vote, you will receive a card confirming your registration and indicating your polling place.
How?
Firstly, inform yourself. Watch television, read newspapers, and explore the internet to learn how the candidates stand on issues that are important to you.
Here are some useful links:
■ Rock the Vote www.rockthevote.org
Targeted towards younger voters, this site seeks to inspire and inform on building political power in young people.
■ Vote 411 www.vote411.org
Countrywide, personalized information on candidates and where they stand on what you’re voting for.
■ Project Vote Smart www.votesmart.org
Free, factual information on candidates in simplified, straightforward language.
Watch debates, watch television, read newspapers, and consult with trusted experts.
For fascinating fun and a bit of history, this site has information, explanations, and ads going back to the beginning of televised election commercials.
