Using the Fall Elections for Instruction

It seems like the 2008 Presidential campaign has been underway for months, but the heaviest campaigning is yet to come. Once the conventions are held and Labor Day passes, the newspapers and radio and television airways will be jam-packed with information for voters.
The election coverage offers lots of opportunities for those working with adult learners.

ProLiteracy has compiled this extensive list of resources that may help you use the elections as a learning tool:

Elections and Voting in Utah

Nonprofit Vote is an online, state-specific voter participation resource for nonprofits who want to engage clients in voting and democracy. Scroll down to Elections and Voting in Utah: http://nonprofitvote.org/

A Nonprofit's Guide to Hosting a Candidate Forum is a step-by-step manual to planning, publicizing and hosting a nonpartisan candidate forum. A candidate event is a great way to engage adult learners in a local election, build clout for the adult literacy issue, and learn more about the candidates. Invite the general public to your forum to increase public understanding of adult literacy and the democratic process. hosting-a-candidate.pdf

A Nonprofit's Guide to Voter Registration This guide covers voter registration forms, the benefits of registering voters, registering voters in your office, and in the community. And it discusses the importance of being nonpartisan. Includes handy checklist. voter-registration.pdf

The League of Women Voters is well known for providing factual, nonpartisan information on candidates and ballot issues, and for hosting citizen educational forums on public policy issues. When you go to the Website, click on Projects, then Voter Information to find: Election Basics - What is a Primary? ; What is a Caucus?; State information ; The Electoral College System; Electing the President: A Guide to the Election Process ; Voter registration; Polling place locator; voter information in Spanish. http://www.lwv.org

• Vote411.org, a project of the League of Women Voters, is a "one-stop-shop" for election-related, nonpartisan information on the following aspects of the election process:
  Absentee ballots
  Ballot measure information (where applicable)
  Early voting options (where applicable)
  Election dates
  Factual data on candidates in various federal, state and local races
  General information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye
  ID requirements
  Polling place locations
  Registration deadlines
  Voter qualifications
  Voter registration forms
  Voting machines
  Go to http://www.vote411.org/
• Project Vote Smart Classroom includes lessons, suggestions for teachers, Project Vote Smart Vocabulary, Introduction to the U.S. Government. votesmart.org
• Young Voters Resource from Project Vote Smart, 18in08 is a nonpartisan documentary film and movement targeting 17 to 24-year-olds. 18 in 08: The Film features interviews with influential politicians, figures from popular culture, political activists, media commentators, student leaders, and young people. 18in08.com
• Easy Voter Guide [California only] is a quick guide to state elections, including elected offices, propositions, political parties and voting issues, and offers education tools about elections and voting in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese. It is available for downloading in these five languages, plus Japanese, Tagalog, and Armenian. easyvoter.org