Extra Credit Projects

1. FIND INFORMATION about how people vote in other countries (for instance: Australia, Canada, Mexico, Britain, Switzerland, France, Sweden, or a country of your choice). Then answer these questions:
    

   • How often are elections held?

   • Who is eligible to vote?

   • Does more than one person run for each office?

   • Is there a penalty for not voting?

2. FORM A SMALL COMMITTEE to plan a visit to your school from a candidate or another person working in the election.

   • PLAN the invitation (for just your class? or for the whole school?); the scheduling (what day? what hours?); what you want the guest to do (visit various classes? speak at an assembly? speak on a special topic? bring campaign literature?).

   • ASSIGN SPECIAL DUTIES: writing the invitation letter; decorating the room in a patriotic theme; preparing students to ask questions; learning more about the guest.

   • CHECK WITH YOUR TEACHER as you develop your ideas and before you contact your guest.

3. DEVOTE ONE BULLETIN BOARD to information about the election. As you update your bulletin board, use the older items to make a class scrapbook.

4. FIND OUT where the POLLING PLACE is for voters who live near your school. Talk to your parents about going with them to the polls on Election Day. If the polling place is in your school, perhaps your whole class could visit.

5. VISIT your COUNTY ELECTION DEPARTMENT. Learn what they do.

   Then find out what California's SECRETARY OF STATE has to do with elections. The Secretary of State's website is http://www.ss.ca.gov/

6. ATTEND a public meeting or a candidates' forum (usually sponsored by the League of Women Voters). Give a short oral or written report on your experience.