Dr. David Childs, Ph.D.
Northern Kentucky University
The US presidential election is held every four years and is watched very closely by people around the world. Most are familiar with the presidential election, and there is generally a higher voter turnout when voting for the president of the United States. However, many people do not realize that there are a number of very, very important elections that take place right in the middle of the president’s term. This is where we come up with the term “Midterm Election.” For example, there are governor’s races, House and Senate races and also many important local races that may be taking place. Local races might include those running for mayor, city council, county commissioner and the local school board. In the upcoming midterm election, voter turnout and who gets elected to office can either greatly strengthen or greatly reduce the president’s power.
It has been a historic struggle to get American citizens to exercise their voting rights and even more of a struggle to get people to participate in midterm elections. Furthermore, some US citizens only recently won the right to have their votes counted (Women and African Americans). Understanding the importance of voting in local, midterm and presidential elections is important for creating an informed citizenry in a democracy. It is important that social studies teachers help students understand the importance of the democratic process and the great role they can play in shaping the future.
SAMPLE LESSON PLAN:
Here is a lesson that will help students understand the importance of their voting rights and the importance of participating in the democratic process. They will also further understand the challenges many Americans had in earning their right to vote.
Objective: Students will analyze the 15th and 18th amendments in order to understand the importance of voting in local, midterm and presidential elections.
Standards:
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)- Standard 6
Power, Authority and Governance: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create, interact with, and change structures of power, authority, and governance.”
Ohio Grade Eight Social Studies Standards
- Historical Thinking Skills: 1. Primary and secondary sources are used to examine events from multiple perspectives and to present and defend a position.1
- Civil War and Reconstruction: 12. The Reconstruction period resulted in changes to the U.S. Constitution, an affirmation of federal authority and lingering social and political differences.
High School Social Studies Standard:
American Government Syllabus
How the American people govern themselves at national, state and local levels of government is the basis for this course. Students can impact issues addressed by local governments through service learning and senior projects.
ACTIVITY/ASSESSMENTS
Fifteenth Amendment:
The Fifteenth Amendment (Amendment XV) to the United States Constitution prohibits the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen’s “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”.
Eighteenth Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
ASSESSMENT ONE:
Response to Voting Amendments
Students can respond to the following prompts about each of the above amendments:
- Describe in your own words what right is being granted as a result of the amendment.
- Who is been empowered in this amendment?
- Who has been left out of this amendment?
- How is your life and also society in general better off as a result of the amendment?
- Discuss how understanding this amendment might help people know the importance of voting and participating in elections and the democratic process.
- In what ways can participating in midterm elections influence the lives of women and African Americans?
- In what ways can participating in local elections influence the lives of women and African Americans?
Class Discussion:
After students have been given adequate time to respond to the prompts, students can discuss their responses on multiple levels.
- They can participate in a “Think, Pair, Share” where they share their thoughts with a neighbor.
- They could also discuss their responses in small groups of three.
- Finally, the class can come back together for a whole group discussion.
ASSESSMENT TWO
Personal Diary Activity:
- Teachers can have students write a diary from a woman’s perspective during the nineteenth century and the effects of them not being able to vote and participate in the democratic process. They should write as if they were that person.
- Teachers can have students write a diary from a slave’s perspective and the effects of them not being able to vote and participate in the democratic process. They should write as if they were that person.
Articles on the importance of upcoming 2018 midterm election:
- The non-American’s guide to the midterm elections
https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/27/politics/us-midterm-election-explainer-intl-trnd/index.html - Midterm Elections 2018: Why They Are So Important
http://www.theweek.co.uk/donald-trump/95501/midterm-elections-2018-why-they-are-important
- The 9 most important state legislature elections in 2018, explainedhttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/30/17614554/2018-midterms-state-legislature-elections-gerrymandering
- Midterm Congressional, State, and Local Elections
https://www.usa.gov/midterm-state-and-local-elections - Why Millennials Should Vote In The Midterm Elections
https://www.forbes.com/sites/francesbridges/2018/10/31/the-4-most-urgent-reasons-to-vote-this-election/#475001c43aad - Why are the midterm elections in the US so important?
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/midterm-elections-important-180831171244043.html
I found this article to be very informative. I am someone who does not follow politics very closely and had no idea what the midterm elections were. I would always hear about them and think they were not important, but this article taught me that they can be very important. Especially at the local level. With school levies, local mayors, etc. being determined at the midterms. I think it will be important to teach my students about the midterms so they at least know what they consist of.
All elections have an impact on our communities. You may not be voting for the president but you are making a local impact. Not only can voting impact you but it also impacts the others around you. Voting is a privilege and it lets your voice become heard. Midterm elections are just as important.
1. While reading this article, it brought a few very important ideas and new thoughts to my attention. Only in recent years has my political stance mattered to me and my fellow friends. After reading this article, I see the importance of not only voting for the Presidential election, but to vote for the Midterm period as well. By voting for the midterm period, it helps shape the way of new laws and federal opinions to expand or decrease. When we vote, we are voting for our future generations and we are paving the way to either a better or worse place.
I never really understood the idea of midterm elections. I think if teachers educate their students on the significance of voting so they know who they want to vote for and the importance of that for when they are old enough to go vote by themselves. Kids nowadays are becoming more independent so showing and teaching them about voting can really be beneficial. That way when they are old enough they can go vote by themselves and not need their parents help.
Midterm elections are held with other elections specifically so that Senators, Governors, and other local officials can be elected. These elections typically don’t have as many voters as a Presidential election would have. It’s already hard enough to get citizens out to vote in important Presidential elections, and its even harder to get people to vote on these midterm elections. You should always, always, always vote during these elections. Study up a little bit on the candidates, and vote.
I agree that one of the most important yet overlooked parts of a democracy is participation in midterm elections. I like that lesson plans that review the 15th and 18th amendment is included in the example and I think it is wise to include this content beginning in the 8th grade. I feel that what has lacked in my educational experience was a lesson in how to inform yourself on the issues at hand and the politicians that are running, in order to make an honest selection and in turn participate in both the midterm and presidential elections. There is so much biased information on the internet and in the media that I personally do not know where to start for reliable information. In no place or time during my education was there someone who taught me a good process or gave reliable resources in how to make an informed vote. Without this, and not knowing accountable non-biased resources, participating in midterm elections only seems like a giant daunting task.
In my opinion, voting for city council, school board members, and the mayor is almost as important as voting for the President. I say this because those things are local, and have a big impact on our society and county. When I have children, I want them to grow up in a great community, therefore I want to have the people I feel are the best fit for the job, in charge. Our founding fathers fought hard to get us the ability to vote, so let’s use it.
Midterm elections can be just as important as a presidential election. The people that are voted in during midterm are the people that directly represent your city, county, and state. They are the people that will listen to your needs and report them to higher ups. If people do not participate in these elections, they are likely going to not like the result of the person who is representing them.
I never really thought about this until recently, I wasn’t very educated on the subject. I am 19 and can vote, but just haven’t yet. I now know that voting during the midterm elections is very important because the people elected shape the government.
1. In every school I have ever been in I was always told how my vote counts and the importance of the presidential election. Thinking back to all of my courses I can’t recall a time we were told about mid-term elections. I knew that mid-term elections existed but not exactly what was going on.
2. I think the lesson plan provided in this article would be an engaging way to reach students so that they may understand the importance of the mid-term elections and their relation with the 15th and 18th amendments.
3. I didn’t realize all the races that take place during the mid-term. For example, governor, senate, mayor, etc.