What is an election?
An election is a decision that is made by voting. Have you ever picked out the leader for a club by raising your hand and voting? Or maybe you and your friends decided whether to play hopscotch or jump-rope by counting out how many people were interested in each, and selecting the one with the most supporters! All of these things would be forms of elections!
Places like cities, states, and countries hold elections too. These elections usually decide on new leaders or new laws for that area. One of the most important parts of these elections is that everyone gets a fair and equal vote. Another important part of an election is that the voters have a choice in what they're voting on. Imagine voting on something without any options, and being forced to vote for just one choice that wouldn't be a very meaningful vote at all!
Voting is an excellent way to give people a choice in the decisions that will affect them, which is why people have been using systems of elections for thousands of years. Vote on!
Exploration
Cast your vote!
Try making up something to decide and having everyone in your house cast a vote!For example, you could have everyone vote on what their favorite breakfast food is! Make up a few choices, such as "cereal," "toast," "fruit," and "eggs." Make a ballot for everyone who is going to vote, and put each choice on each ballot, with a box for them to check off next to the choice they will make.Allow everyone to check off their vote, and then have them each put their vote in a special collection box you can make for gathering all the ballots!Count up the responses you get on each ballot! Which item on your list had the most votes? Whichever one gets the most votes is your family's choice for favorite breakfast food!
Further Information
Being a responsible citizen
A citizen is a member of a country, community or group. Usually, a citizen has certain responsibilities in the place where they live or the group they are a part of. In a democracy the main responsibility for a citizen is to go to elections and vote for the communty's leaders.
