Discover ways kids & families can help boost voter engagement!
Countdown to Election Day 2024 is an interactive guide designed to prepare youth & families for this year's election.  

This week: 
LET'S GET OUT THE VOTE!  Learn about how your family can help boost informed voter turnout in this election!

BONUS:  Get ready for the Presidential debates!
 
And don't forget to share this with your friends and family!
Did You Know?
Depending on the election year, 25-75% of eligible voters don't cast a ballot?  Voter turnout is even lower for first-time and younger voters.

Take a look at the voter turnout information in the charts below. Voters in Durham County were three times more likely to participate in a Presidential Election than in a local City Council Election—a trend that's consistent across all counties in North Carolina and the US. Voter turnout data also shows that in the 2020 Election, 24% fewer young people voted compared to their grandparents. And keep in mind, the 2020 Election had the highest youth turnout since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972—it's usually even lower!

One powerful way kids—and everyone—can make a difference in this election is by helping to get out the vote! You can encourage adults by sharing what's on the ballot, how to find reliable information on candidates & issues, when and where to vote, and why every vote matters. Click on the image below to see how PBS Kids' Arthur characters are helping the adults in their lives make it to the polls this fall!
Quote Corner

“Voting is not only our right, it is our power.”

 Loung Ung, Cambodian-American human rights advocate

 

“Voting is the great equalizer. As Rev. King wrote, ‘All progress is precarious.’ So don’t sit on the sidelines. Don’t hesitate. Don’t have any regrets.” 

 Maya Angelou, poet & civil rights activist
Civic Talk Time
Let's Talk About It.
Make some time during dinner, car rides, or at special family time to slow down and discuss the following questions:  
  • How would you express the ideas from the above quotes in your own words?  How do these quotes resonate with or differ from your own experience?  (Find more questions and activities for this quote in our Civic Quote Walk activity)
  • Why do you think some eligible voters don't cast a ballot in elections?  Why do younger voters have the lowest turnout rates?
  • What else is on the ballot this year besides President (hint: there's a lot!)  How can we make people aware of all the important offices at the local level that are being voted on this year?
  • What would you say to someone who thinks voting isn't important?  What information would you give them to help make voting easy for them?
  • What would your message or #hashtag be for a Get Out the Vote campaign?   
  • What are some ways kids & families can encourage and motivate eligible adults to become more informed and active voters members?
Doing Democracy
Your family can make election season a time of hands-on learning and participation!

Kids Voting would love to see any GOTV art or campaigns you make and share them on our own social media to inpire others!  Tag us @kidsvotingdurham on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter or send your creations to info(at)kidstoingdurham.org !

 

Check out some of the creative ways art & design are being used to inspire voter turnout and then design your own Get Out the Vote (GOTV) poster!

  •  Design for Democracy's poster gallery showcases entries from some of the nation's best graphic designers in this GOTV poster contest.  Design for Democracy is a partnership between the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA), Nonprofit VOTE, and the League of Women Voters.  (Extra perk:  you can download any of these to use in your own GOTV campaign!)
  • Explore Voting Arts Lab, a collective of NC creatives using their artistic talents to boost voter engagement across our state this fall.  There collection of GOTV posters is fantastic!.  (And find out about more of their efforts in the #YouthInAction section below!)

 

Ready to plan your own Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign?:  Think about who you'd like to encourage to vote -- first-time and other young voters, people in your family or neighborhood or whoever you think needs to hear how important their vote vote is! Kids Voting Durham's GOTV Organizer can help you create a winning campaign!

 

Color and send some Kids Voting Please Vote Postcards: Canva Template (requires free Canva account) or printable PDF.  You can even design your own!

 

Help adults make a Voting Plan!  Did you know that creating a written voter plan increases the likelihood that a voter will actually show up at the polls?  Helping adults make their voting plan can be fun and increase turnout!  Kids Voting Durham's Voting Plan fillable PDF (or use the printable version) walks you through all the steps for creating a voting plan in Durham County and can be used as a guide for other NC counties as well

 

 

 
#YouthInAction
Youth are our future NOW! 
Voting Arts Lab is a collective of young artists, musicians, & other creatives who belive in the power of arts to drive voter engagement and save our democracy and who aim to amplify NC youth voices in this election.  Get inspired by their efforts including their Zine:  Why Vote in NC which reflects "the diverse experiences and perspectives of a generation: or attend one of their music & arts events in Raleigh or Asheville this fall!
Art pieces from the Voting Arts Lab zine "Why Vote in NC?" by Kemi Heyward-Rotini and Ingrid Swanson
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BONUS: Presidential Debates
A Debate between two of the Presidential Candidates -- Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump -- will take place September at 9 pm. Your family can get ready to watch and talk about the debates with some of resources developed specially for kids: 
 
  • After:  C-SPAN ClassroomC-SPAN Classroom will take you through key clips from the debate to discuss and analyze -- especially useful if you couldn't stay up past your bedtime to watch the debates live!
Kids Voting Durham & Kids Voting North Carolina are programs of the Durham County Cooperative Extension.
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