Workshop Section 8: Voting Champions Election
In this section we get all the people together who have
volunteered to be candidates in the mini-election. We ask
them to think about 3 things which they think will make people vote
for them.
While the election candidates are doing this, we usually have a
quiz for the rest of the group.
We have borrowed a giant snakes and ladders game to do this from
the Electoral Commission. You can do this too by going to this
website: www.dopolitics.org.uk
You can also make up your own quiz.
Click on the picture of
the TV to find the questions that we have used to do this (word
doc).
When the candidates are ready, it's time for the election.
For this you need to have made ballot papers. We do
this at lunch time.
The candidates make a short speech, with support if they want
it, giving their 3 reasons why people should vote for
them. They hold up a picture so that people can find them on
the ballot paper, without worrying about reading their name.
Remind the group they are trying to find the person whose
views are closest to their own. We say: "I think the same as
you, so I choose you. I will vote for you."
To set up a polling station you will need enough ballot papers
for everyone in the room. This includes any supporters because this
is a democracy, which means that almost everyone over 18 has a
vote.
You also need a box with a hole in it to be the ballot box; and
a big cardboard box, so that people have a private place to
vote.
You need one person, sitting at a desk with a pad of paper
to take people's names and addresses, to tell them they are on the
list called the electoral register, and to give them the ballot
papers.
Another person is needed to support people to complete the
ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.
Click on the
picture of a cardboard box to find this list of what you need
(word doc).
Before they vote, remind people that they can have help to vote,
but they must decide themselves who they want to vote for.
