Lesson
Voter Turnout
Guiding question
What demographic characteristics best predict voter turnout?
Guide students understanding of who participates most often in the democratic process through voting.
Guiding Questions
- What demographic characteristics best predict voter turnout?
- Who participates most often in the democratic process through voting?
Objectives
- Students can identify and explain patterns and trends in voter turnout.
Materials
Student Resources:
Lesson Components

ActivityVoter Turnout in Midterm and General Elections
Five graphs that illustrate about how demographics can affect voter turnout.
Lesson plan
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More Information
Facilitation Notes
- For clarity with the charts, students may need to be refreshed on the difference between midterm and general elections.
- Midterm elections are those held halfway through a president’s term, and the focus is on Congress. All positions in the House and a third of the Senate positions are up for election. General elections include the president, all House seats, and a third of the Senate.
- Due to the nature of the graphs, printing in color would be necessary, or sharing the graphs with students to use on their own devices.