California
Election
Headquarters

Election Protection

The votes are counted, and the candidate who received the most votes won. Seems simple, right? Not so fast. A lot more goes into running a secure election than meets the eye. Have students learn about the multiple levels of protection that produce accurate election results. 

5 min: Have students read the short CalMatters explainer: How are elections protected? to learn about the multiple layers of election security. 

2 min: Ask students to explain why three of the election protections listed in the article would be important.

3 min: Discuss this question as a class: Why is it important in a democracy that voters have faith in secure elections? 

TIME’S UP!

Have more time? Students can practice the voting process by playing the iCivics game Cast Your Vote. Creating a free iCivics account allows students to save their progress and play a little each day.

Time to Represent

The election is over. The results are coming in. But that doesn’t mean voters’ participation in politics is over. Show students how they can inform their newly-elected representatives about the issues that matter to them. 

INTRODUCE students to California’s newly-elected representatives using the CalMatters voter guide. Winning candidates have been marked with “ELECTED” next to their names.

DISCUSS in groups the issues and concerns that students think their representatives need to know about. Make a list. Then help students determine if each issue would be best addressed on the local, state, or federal level. 

READ the introduction on page 2 of the iCivics resource: Students Power Elections: Get Involved. This teaches students how they can use their voice outside of elections. Have students research California’s elected representatives using CommonCause.org  to complete the graphic organizer. 

GUIDE students through the process of writing an email to a representative using the email graphic organizer on page 3 of Students Power Elections: Get Involved. Then have students take a turn!

Voter Rights

Election day is this Tuesday, November 8th, and voters across California will be heading to the polls or voting by mail. But what happens if a voter makes a mistake on their ballot, or needs assistance completing it? Have your students learn about important voter rights. Then get the word out by creating educational posters for their schools and communities. 

3 min: Have students read the CalMatters explainer “What are your rights as a voter?”

2 min: Discuss in pairs or groups which rights mentioned are the most important for voters to know about and why.

5 min: Individually or in pairs, have students create a poster that informs voters of the rights they think are most important. 

TIME’S UP! 

Have more time? Have students learn more about voting rights by teaching the Week 2 45-minute Election activity “Ballot Languages.”

Combating Misinformation

What is real news? What are false claims?  It can be difficult to tell the difference, especially when it comes to elections. Have students read about what social media companies are doing to protect voters from election-related misinformation. Then equip students with the skills necessary to correctly identify misinformation when they see it. 

READ the CalMatters article “What are Twitter and Facebook doing?”. As students read, have them identify the steps social media companies are taking to combat misinformation and disinformation.

ASK students: Which approaches to combat misinformation do you think are the most effective? According to the article, what are the drawbacks to some of the efforts to combat misinformation?

PREPARE students to spot misinformation by reading about the types of mis- and disinformation floating around the internet. Have students read the iCivics lesson Misinformation (Reading – Side B) to teach about common “fake news” tricks. Then help students learn how to do fact-checking by reading “Internet Sleuthing” (Reading – Side D).

APPLY misinformation investigation skills by completing  the “Information Investigation” activity individually or in pairs (Practice Activity Side – A).

Opinion and Analysis

There are a lot of opinions thrown around during an election season. And it can be difficult to know who or what to believe. Introduce students to the types of news-related opinion they are likely to encounter, and how to determine whether an opinion piece is worth their time. 

INTRODUCE the types of news-related opinion students may encounter by having students view the table on Reading – Side B from the iCivics lesson, Opinion & Analysis. Then have students read Reading – Side E to learn how to determine whether an opinion piece should be taken seriously.

ASK students: What are some of the qualities of reliable opinion and analysis? What are red flags to watch out for when consuming media? 

READ the CalMatters commentary, Could California save Democrats’ US House majority?. As students read, have them identify evidence of reliable analysis in the article. Scroll down to choose a lexile level that is best for your students. 

DISCUSS the message of the commentary. Ask: What facts, context, and reasoning did the author provide to help you understand his analysis of California’s US House races this November?

Have more time? Students can play the game Newsfeed Defenders to put their news literacy skills to the test. Creating a free iCivics account allows students to save their progress and play a little each day.

Election laws

The last day for online voter registration is October 24th, but unlike some states in the country, California offers same-day voter registration for anyone who missed the online deadline. Discuss with students some of California’s other election laws and where they fit in with the rest of the country. 

3 min: Have students work in groups to analyze the iCivics infographic: The Spectrum of State Election Laws. Instruct each group to research California’s laws for one of the seven sections of the infographic.

5 min: Have each group share California’s law for their section. Ask students to use the grey number circles on the infographic to draw conclusions about how California’s laws compare to other states.

2 min: Discuss if any of California’s laws surprised students, or if they think any should be changed in some way. 

TIME’S UP!

Have more time? Have students explore the CalMatters Voting FAQ to learn all about voting in November’s elections including how to register and vote, either by mail or in-person.

Reaching all voters

Each state determines their own election laws. Some states require a state issued ID in order to register, but some don’t. Some states allow voters to register the same day as an election, while others require registrations weeks in advance. Recently, California passed election reforms in an effort to reach more voters. So, what are California’s election laws? And are the election reforms working?

PREVIEW the iCivics infographic, The Spectrum of State Election Laws, with students to offer a sense of the types of election laws that can vary by state.

READ the CalMatters article “Election reform ignores obstacles for diverse voters.” Using the information from the article, have students select California’s laws for voter registration, absentee voting, and voter ID on the infographic. Scroll down to to choose a lexile level that is best for your students. 

DISCUSS as a class where the reforms were unsuccessful in increasing voter turnout.

ASK students: What are the reasons eligible voters struggle to participate in an election? How do election reforms attempt to solve those problems? Are changes needed?

Have more time? Assign students to research where California falls in the remaining election law categories on the infographic. Discuss ways in which state laws affect voters and elections.

Running for reelection

Candidates run campaigns with clever slogans, TV ads, and a strong social media presence. But most of the time the best campaign strategy is experience. Investigate with students some of the incumbents cruising towards reelection this November and consider why they have an advantage over their challengers. 

3 min: Assign the iCivics mini-lesson: The Incumbent Advantage. Have students read the first page to learn about why incumbents have an advantage. 

4 min: Use the Find Your Districts section of the CalMatters voter guide to find out if there are incumbents running in the districts where students live. (Note: if there are incumbents running in students’ districts, have them identify whether the seat is “safe”, a “toss up”, or designated a “hot race” to follow.)

3 min: Discuss in groups the pros and cons of electing an incumbent to office. 

TIME’S UP! 

Have more time? Students can learn more about the candidates running for office in their districts by clicking “More details” from the Find Your Districts results page.  

Check the mail. Ballots arrive!

Ballots were mailed to all registered voters on October 10th and aren’t due back until Election Day on November 8th. This gives voters plenty of time to learn about the candidates and make informed decisions. What should voters look for in a candidate? What questions should they consider?

TEACH students about candidate evaluation by modeling the process using the iCivics Candidate Report Card along with the Governor Job Posting and bios for Brian Dahle and Gavin Newsom from CalMatters. Model how students can identify candidate qualities and see where candidates stand on key issues. Scroll down to choose the English or Spanish version of this article for your students. 

DISCUSS the different areas presented in the report card template. Have students talk about why these things are important and how they could help a voter make a decision. 

ALLOW time for students to practice evaluating candidates for the Lieutenant Governor and/or US Senate races individually or in small groups.  

ASK students what they can tell about their priorities as a voter based on how they evaluated the candidates. Ask: What issues are most important to you? Was anything surprising? 

Have more time? Students can play the game Cast Your Vote for more practice on evaluating candidates, researching issues, and learning to be an informed voter.

California State Legislature

All 80 seats in California’s State Assembly are up for election. The winning candidates will represent the people of their districts, but what does that really mean? Delve into the roles and responsibilities of an assembly member, and ask students how they want to be represented.

3 min: Have students read the CalMatters State Assembly job posting. Focus on the “Qualifications” section to understand the roles and responsibilities of the position.

4 min: Teach two models of representation by having students read the “Spotlight On: Representation” section from the iCivics lesson State Legislatures. After reading, have students write a list of the strengths and weaknesses of the Delegate Model and the Trustee Model. 

3 min: Have students discuss in groups which model of representation they think is most effective and why.

TIME’S UP!Have more time? Students can use Activity C in the State Legislatures lesson and the CalMatters Voter Guide to research the facts about the California Senate and Assembly.

Women in the Legislature

Currently 39 of the 120 representatives in the California State Legislature are women, and based on June’s primary results, that number could rise to a new record high in November. Take a look at the history of women in politics and consider the challenges they face when serving in public office. 

WATCH the iCivics video Patsy Mink: Changing the Rules to learn about a groundbreaking politician who helped pave the way for women in politics.

ASK students: What issues did Representative Mink fight for while in office? How do you think her experiences influenced the issues she fought for?

READ the CalMatters article “Will women rule in the 2022 California election?” to learn about how female candidates are overcoming challenges and how Californians could elect a record number of women to the state legislature in November. 

DISCUSS as a class how a person’s background can contribute to their service in government.

Voter Registration

Who is eligible to vote? How do I register? Why does voting even matter? These are questions young people ask. Engage your students in a discussion about voting, and how all eligible voters can get to the polls. 

4 min: Discuss the importance of each vote and voter registration by completing the “Voting Mind Map” with your students in the iCivics activity Voting Matters. 

5 min: Research voting in California by using the CalMatters Voting FAQ. Have students skim then read the FAQs under “Registering to vote” and “How to vote” to find the information on this graphic organizer. (Click here to view the Voting FAQ in Spanish)

1 min: Remind students that individuals must register to vote and that in California 16-year-olds meeting eligibility criteria can preregister to vote. 

TIME’S UP!

Have more time? Explore the rest of the Voting FAQ to learn all about voting in November’s elections including how to get voter information in different languages. 

Expanding Voting Rights?

Through technology and social media young people are getting involved and making their voices heard on the issues that matter to them. This has led to calls to lower the voting age in local elections and primaries. Voting rights have expanded throughout our country’s history, but how young is too young to vote?

TEACH students about the history of voting rights in the U.S. and lead them through activities about why voting matters with the iCivics lesson Voting: Will you do it?

READ the CalMatters article Voting at 17? Not so fast to learn about a 2020 ballot proposition that would have given 17-year-olds the right to vote in primary elections. Scroll down to choose a lexile level that is best for your students. 

ASK students: Are teens younger than 18 ready and responsible enough to vote?

DISCUSS the impacts of youth voting. How could expanding the right to vote affect who is elected and which laws are passed?

Ballot Measures

It’s not just candidates who will appear on Californians’ ballots this November. Voters will also have their say on topics ranging from gambling to music education. Give your students a glimpse into the seven ballot measures that voters will see this November.

4 min: Teach ballot measure basics by reading the short section “Voting for Laws: Referendums and Initiatives” from the iCivics lesson Got Ballot?. Then assign Part A of the accompanying worksheet.

4 min: Explore some of this November’s ballot measures* in the CalMatters Explainer: “What’s on your November ballot?.” (Click here to view the article in Spanish) 

2 min: Discuss one connection students made between the activity and the article as a whole-group or in pairs.

TIME’S UP!

Have more time? Students can practice the voting process by playing the iCivics game Cast Your Vote. Creating a free iCivics account allows students to save their progress and play a little each day.

*Before diving into the propositions on this November’s ballot, check out the Teaching Controversial Issues: Why Do It? video and the teaching strategies on our California Election Headquarters site.

Ballot Measures In-depth

State representatives are elected to write bills and vote on laws, but many states have a process that allows voters to participate in a more direct form of democracy by voting on laws themselves through ballot measures.

TEACH ballot measure basics by reading the short section “Voting for Laws: Referendums and Initiatives” from the iCivics lesson Got Ballot?. Then assign Part A of the accompanying worksheet.

DIVIDE students into groups of four to conduct a jigsaw activity. Distribute the graphic organizer. Choose the four most engaging ballot propositions* for your students. Assign a different ballot proposition to each student in the group. 

COMPLETE the jigsaw activity. First, have students read or watch their assigned CalMatters Voter Guide Proposition article or video and meet in “expert” groups with students who studied the same proposition. Instruct students to take notes in the first box of the graphic organizer to track the details of their proposition.

RETURN students to their jigsaw groups to share and discuss the propositions. Each expert will explain their proposition while their group members take notes in the remaining boxes of the graphic organizer. 

*Before diving into the propositions on this November’s ballot, check out the Teaching Controversial Issues: Why Do It? video and teaching strategies in our California Election Headquarters.

U.S. House of Representatives

What issues do your students feel passionately about? What do they want to see changed? Begin the conversation by teaching about the U.S. House of Representatives. In November, Californians will send 52 Representatives to Washington to address the issues that matter to voters in their home district. 

2 min: Teach students about the qualifications and responsibilities of a congressional representative by reading the CalMatters U.S. House Job Posting. 

2 min: Watch the iCivics video, Patsy Mink: Changing the Rules, to dive deeper into what a Representative does and to learn about their potential impact. 

6 min: Discuss what would motivate students to participate in politics.

TIME’S UP!

Have more time? Students can step into the role of a representative and try their hand at creating laws through the game LawCraft. Creating a free iCivics account allows students to save their progress and play a little each day. 

Ballot Languages

Go vote! Seems simple, right? Not so fast. Historically, there have been barriers that citizens have had to overcome on their journey to the voting booth. Take a look at why the U.S. has a federal law on voting and how it protects voting rights for people at state and local levels.  

TEACH about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 1975 Amendment that protects language minority citizens using this two-page mini-lesson from iCivics. 

DISCUSS how offering ballots in only one language could be discriminatory. 

READ the CalMatters article “Lost in translation: How many languages for California election ballots?,” to show students a real-life example of how voting protections are being challenged in California. Scroll down to choose a lexile level that is best for your students.

ASK students how they think the state of California is doing in meeting people’s needs.

Governor’s Race

California’s governor race is a big item in the election this November. Use the CalMatters Voter Guide to help students understand the candidates and where they stand on key issues.

2 min: Read the CalMatters Governor Job Posting to learn about the roles and responsibilities of the office. 

5 min: Evaluate the candidates’ positions on the issues students care about by using the “Key Topics” section of the Job Posting and the iCivics graphic organizer from the Candidate Report Card.

3 min: Conduct a whole group or partner discussion about what students learned. 

TIME’S UP! Have more time? Read the Full Job Applications for Brian Dahle and Gavin Newsom.

California Redistricting

Californians will send 52 Representatives to the U.S. House this November, one from each election district. But who decides how a district is created? And how does it work? 

TEACH students about election districts and how they are created using the iCivics WebQuest Reapportionment & Redistricting.

READ the Calmatters article “California redistricting: What to know about the final maps” to see how California approached redistricting differently this time around. Scroll below to choose a lexile level that is best for your students. 

ASK what criteria did the independent commission have to meet when redrawing the districts?

DISCUSS whether students think California did a good job creating a fair electoral map.