Election day this year is Tuesday, November 5th and is a day designated by law for the election of public officials. Voting is a way for U.S. citizens to participate in the democratic process and to elect leaders that represent them and their interests. While most students are not of age to vote yet, they can begin to learn about civics and voting, and to reflect on the importance of this constitutional right.

• Explore titles for young people about voting to share with readers or incorporate into your lessons from these recently added curated lists:

  • WOW Dozen: Books About Voting
  • Reader. Voter. Ready: Inspiring Future Voters
  • 30 Books about Voting and Elections for Kids of All Ages
  • Children’s Books about Voting and Elections
  • Voting Rights, Elections & Democracy: Books for Young People Ages 5-10
  • Kids’ Books About Voting Rights
  • Civics and Our Government
  • Let's Vote!

• Watch the complete video book reading of Duck for President and then discuss democracy and the election process with students. Dive deeper with questions and activities on this lesson plan.

• Help even the youngest readers understand the concept of voting and making choices with this complete video book reading of I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference. Then play “this or that” and hold mock elections for favorite pet, color, dessert, and more using these activities.

• Learn about the history of voting rights in the U.S. by watching this complete video book reading for Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America.

• Encourage students to learn about the voting process and voter’s rights by sharing materials found in this discussion guide for The Walk.

• Dive into elements of democracy using this teacher’s guide for D is for Democracy: A Citizen's Alphabet. Learn about the constitution, branches of government, bill of rights, and how laws are made. Extend learning with math, art, and letter writing activities.

• Guide students to reflect on issues that are important to them and then have them practice writing letters to their representatives with these letter writing kits: The elementary letter writing activity from Sofia Valdez, Future Prez, and the secondary letter writing kit from March.

• Share printable suffragist trading cards from Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote with students. Each student can take a few cards, learn about each figure through the facts on the back of the card, then introduce each to their classmates.

• Ask your students voting related questions, learn vocabulary, and try some activities from this activity sheet for Get Out and Vote! How You Can Shape the Future.

• Play this printable voting game that accompanies Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote. All you need is one die and something to use for tokens (coins, beans, little bits of paper, etc.).

• Show the complete video book reading of Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and explore these activities and discussion guides.