Voting: What Parents Can Do To Teach Their Children

2008 November 03 by: Scott

Every year, parents have a tremendous “teachable moment:” This teachable moment involves voting! What a privilege we have as parents to encourage our children to participate in the voting process. Any child who is in school is old enough to begin learning the importance of voting. This ScottCounseling article will help you, the parent, to consider the following steps that will encourage your child to get involved in our civic responsibility at an early age.

Steps to Voting: get Your Child Involved

Begin to teach your child what it means to be a voting American. Share with your child your feeling. about the importance of voting. Discuss the election, who involved, what issues are being discuss and how you feel about those issues. Ask your child their thoughts. Many discussion can be created after the child sees a political ad on television.
Take your child with you when you vote. Limit the number of children that you bring with you to two. Discuss the voting procedures at the voting site before you go.
Involve you children at home by “let’s vote on it.” Allow your children to become involved an acceptable democratic voting process for: a family meal, movie, selecting a family game etc.
Read the local newspaper with your children and discuss local and national politics that are displayed in articles, pictures and cartoons.
Ask your child what discussions he or she is having at school. Continue this discussion at home. Encourage your child to use appropriate debating skills that inclides listening to others who may have a different opinion, respecting others who may have a different belief than you (and your family) and learn from other who are sharing.
Help your child’s school hold an election. The election can be for Student Council, or an election that is similar to our state local or national elections; with the same candidates and issues.
One vote does make a difference. Here are some examples:

In 1997, Vermont State representative Sydney Nixon was seated as an apparent one vote winner, 570 to 569. Mr Nixon resigned when the State House determined, after a recount, that he had actually lost to his opponent Robert Emond 572 to 571.

In 1989, a Lansing, Michigan School District millage proposition failed when the final recount produced a tie vote 5,147 for, and 5,147 against. On the original vote count, votes against the proposition were ten more than those in favor. The result meant that the school district had to reduce its budget by $2.5 million.

In 1994, Republican Randall Luthi and Independent Larry Call tied for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from the Jackson Hole area with 1,941 votes each. A recount produced the same result. Mr. Luthi was finally declared the winner when, in a drawing before the State Canvassing Board, a pingpong ball bearing his name was pulled from the cowboy hat of Democratic Governor Mike Sullivan.

In 1997, South Dakota Democrat John McIntyre led Republican Hal Wick 4,195 to 4,191 for the second seat in Legislative District 12 on election night. A subsequent recount showed Wick the winner at 4,192 to 4,191. The State Supreme Court however, ruled that one ballot counted for Wick was invalid due to an overvote. This left the race a tie. After hearing arguments from both sides, the State Legislature voted to seat wick 46 to 20.

Finally, have fun! Teach your child that voting is serious, but learning the process can be very interesting and fun.