Who Can Vote? Chart
Chronicle the historic and current requirements for voting in countries around the world with this simple, interactive chart.
1. Do some research on voting rights in various parts of the world. You will find that in some countries, no one is allowed to vote. Other countries have had universal suffrage (voting rights) since the end of the 19th century. Women were granted the right to cast ballots in Kuwait in 2005. Women won that right in Canada in 1917, except for Canadian native Americans (both men and women) who had to wait 42 more years to be allowed to vote.
2. In the past, people’s ages, genders, religion, and property ownership have been just some of the conditions for full suffrage. Find out about the history of voting rights in your country. Compare requirements for voting there with requirements in other nations.
3. On posterboard, design a chart to compare voting practices in at least three countries. Pick the categories you will compare, such as age, residency, ethnicity, or gender. With a Crayola Erasable Colored Pencil, sketch columns to be cut out. Use a Crayola Cutter or Crayola Scissors to remove the column sections, leaving a border around the chart for titles.
4. Attach your chart to slightly larger posterboard. Connect ONLY the right side of the two pieces (you will slide country cards into the chart) using a Crayola Glue Stick. Label the chart and each section with Crayola Markers. Decorate eye-catching borders.
5. On one open file folder for each country, trace the cut-out areas of your chart. Record voting rights information inside these spaces with Crayola Twistables® Colored Pencils. Create a tab on the side with each country’s name and type of government. Slide two or more country cards into the chart at the same time by overlapping sections. Compare and contrast your information.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
- Find out about the "hot" voting rights issues facing your country right now. In the United States, some states may require a picture ID that costs money. Could this have the same effect as a poll tax? What about the status of Puerto Rico, where citizens don’t vote but they don’t pay income taxes either?
- Debate the question: Is voting a human right?
- What are some ways that people are kept away from voting around the world? Why were some of these policies changed? Why do some remain in effect? Who has the authority to change them?
- Assessment: Describe your country’s voting requirements and how they have changed over time. Compare these policies to one other country.
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