VOTING RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES by Lillian Grable

WEBSITE:The Andrew Goodman Foundation *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-08 17:38:03 UTC

Website honoring the Legacy of murdered Freedom Summer volunteer Andrew Goodman with biographical information about Andrew Goodman, as well as James Chaney and David Schwermer, and highlighting the current activities of the organization of college and university student interns and ambassadors working for voter rights today. Students can explore the website and identify three ways to encourage student involvement in voting. In small groups, prepare a slide show on the life and impact of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, or David Schwermer and their motivations, experience, and legacy or the impact of today's AGF volunteers on voting access and participation today.

PODCAST: 16 & 17 year olds Vote in California *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-08 17:42:37 UTC

Podcast reporting on California's 16- and 17-year-olds who have been granted the right to vote in their local school board elections. Students could listen to the podcast and follow up by researching the history of voting age restrictions in the US and the catalyst for change that promoted the ideals that led to the change.

Archive: National Archives - Voting Rights Act *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-08 17:44:18 UTC

This collection of the National Archives includes numerous primary source documents, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Students can utilize the archive to locate primary source material, and it could also be utilized as a discussion prompt: What would be the impact of the National Archives being eliminated?

VIDEO: PBS Felon Voting Rights ****

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 19:43:58 UTC

A short but concise overview of voter disenfranchisment policies, how they differ from state to state, and their impact on voter participation and election outcomes today. Students are assigned a state to look at felony voting rights in that state. The class can discuss how election outcomes might look different if felons could vote and whether it is fair that felons can be president but can't vote for president. (Note: This may be a sensitive issue for students whose lives are currently impacted by the incarceration of a loved one).

WEBSITE: Athletes Rock the Vote *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 19:47:35 UTC

Rock the Vote youth vote campaign organization utilizes athletes to encourage young people to engage in the democratic process by registering to vote and casting their ballot to ensure their voice is heard. Students could debate whether sports and politics should mix. Alternatively, students could identify how athletes use their voices to promote voter participation or comment on politics. Rock the Vote was initially an organization tapping musicians to encourage youth voting and is now using athletes. is there an intersection? Connected current athletes and musicians actions to encourage voting rights to those of Freedom Summer.

PODCAST: Does My Vote Matter- Student Reporting **

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 20:57:54 UTC

ARCHIVE: SNCC Primary Sources *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 22:13:52 UTC

An extensive collection of archival materials as well as more recent interviews and recordings of conferences discussing the historical context and legacy of the Student Non-Violent Cordianting Committee (SNCC). Also, it links to many other relevant civil rights organizations, including CORE and the NAACP, that were also instrumental in the Freedom Summer voter registration drives. Students compare and contrast the missions, campaigns, and achievements of the SNCC, the CORE, and the NAACP via a Venn diagram.

Game: Cast Your Vote *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 23:06:53 UTC

Two games are available: Cast Your Vote game, where you decide on which candidate to choose based on what you think is important, and how the candidate responds after learning about all the issues, where candidates stand, and how to actually cast a ballot. Also, the game Win The Whitehouse is where, as a presidential candidate, you learn to identify what issues matter to voters and land what it takes for them to vote for you.

MOVIE: Mississippi Burning ****

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 23:11:02 UTC

The film is set in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, telling the story of three murdered youths who volunteered to register black voters in the Jim Crow south: Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Micheal Schwermer. Pair with archival biographical information about the young men on the Andrew Goodman Foundation site and Wisconsin Historical Society to gain insight into why these three young men chose to volunteer and what the positive legacy is of the work of the Freedom Summer volunteers that we still see today, sharing at least three of those things.

MOVIE REVIEW: Mississippi Burning - Common Sense Media Review ****

lilliangrable — 2025-03-10 23:16:59 UTC

Common Sense Media Review of Film with clips to utilize before screening entire film.

Archive: LBJ Presidential Library *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-13 01:56:52 UTC

Audio recording of telephone conversation between LBJ and MLK. The site also includes an extensive archival collection of President Lyndon B. Johnson's tenure as President of the United States. Archives related to the passing of the Voting Rights Act include telephone recordings and telegraph communication between Dr. Martin Luther King (and others) and President Johnson discussing the urgent needs and challenges occurring during the Freedom Summer Voter Rights Drives. Activities could include students creating a text message from conveying the message and agendas in the archive or a current-day text message from MLK to the current President. From the students themselves to the current US President, outline why voter rights matter.

BOOKS: Drawing the Vote (Graphic Novel)*

lilliangrable — 2025-03-13 18:41:48 UTC

This graphic novel explores the history of U.S. elections from 2016 to 2022, looking at the events that shaped those elections, as well as the January 6th insurrection. Art is utilized to understand political trends and events and encourage young people to vote. Students could choose a significant event in the book and create their own corresponding graphic novellette.

ARCHIVE: FREEDOM SUMMER COLLECTION *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-13 19:02:11 UTC

Extensive collections of materials include images, documents, and other ephemera, as well as teacher resources, including lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations. Students can utilize to examine primary source materials from Freedom Summer.

Opportunity: Student Election Workers *

lilliangrable — 2025-03-13 19:14:12 UTC

The Secretary of State's informational page outlines how to become a 16- or 17-year-old poll worker and get paid! stie proives all info an has a chat box. Students can investigate eligibility (including citizenship requirements, gauge interest, and share back why or why not they would consider being a poll worker or write an elevator speech to recruit high school students to consider being a poll worker.