This is lesson one of seven about municipal elections that I developed and proposed for Student Vote. This lesson allows students to explore and identify reasons for participating in democratic elections. Please refer to Municipal Election Lessons Additional Resources for references and supporting information.

1. Big Idea:
Informed participation in local government both stimulates and upholds the principles of
democracy.
Essential Question:
What are the characteristics of an informed Canadian citizen participating in a municipal election or
school board election?
Why Vote? Voter Turnout & Our Right and Responsibility to Vote
Elections enable all citizens to have a voice in the values and actions that will shape their
community’s future.
Hook 5-10 min.
Watch a video clip from The Rick Mercer Report: “Rick’s Rant – Voting 101.” As a class, create an
outline detailing the important points of the video clip.
Essential Learning 20-40 min.
1. The video clip focuses on voting in elections. As a class, define the term “election” and give
examples of elections in which you have participated, the outcomes of these elections, and your
perceptions of these experiences. Identify the date and type of upcoming elections in your
community.
2. Using Handouts 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, work in pairs to justify why voting should be considered both
a right and a responsibility for Canadians. Share your conclusions with the class.
3. The video clip questions politicians’ consideration of students during election campaigns. Using
Handouts 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and websites suggested by your teacher, summarize how students
can have a voice in your community. Share your conclusions with the class.
4. From this set of activities, review what you have discussed and learned about the importance of
participating in elections.
Extended Learning 25-45 min.
Option A:
Begin the construction of a portfolio in which assignments, news articles, campaign information,
and reflections can be kept to demonstrate your knowledge and thoughts about democracy and
about the upcoming municipal and school board elections. Consider whether your portfolio will be
in physical or digital format.
Option B:
Brainstorm characteristics of an effective democracy, and use these characteristics to arrange a
series of images that depict effective democracy in a community. Add captions to explain how
effective democracy is being represented in each image. Consider composing your own images,
collecting images from print media, or creating a digital gallery using Flickr.
Option C:
Brainstorm qualities of a healthy democracy, and use these characteristics to explain what a
healthy democracy looks like. Consider framing your explanation as a dramatic presentation,
essay, news article, oral presentation, poster, or in another manner approved by your teacher.
Option D:
Writing from the point of view of a teacher, mayor, or school board trustee addressing parents at
your school, compose a letter or speech explaining why it is important for students to learn about
elections. Consider performing this dialogue or sharing it with your family.

2. Key Terms
action; community; constitution; democracy; election; informed; participation; principle;
responsibility; right; value; youth turnout
Essential Questions
Why should voting be considered both a right and a responsibility?
How can I “have a voice” in my community?
What are the characteristics of a democracy?
Why should I pay attention to elections now if I cannot legally vote?
Teacher Preparation
Ensure access to “Voting 101” online video
Select teaching strategies for essential learning activities
Make class copies of required handouts
Book computer lab, if desired
Preview websites to be used for class activities, if desired (see chapter on Additional Resources)
Select extended learning activity and teaching strategies, if desired
Assessment
Students should provide evidence that they are able to clearly define and give examples of rights,
responsibilities, and democracy and that they are able to articulate why democracy is personally
significant.

3. Handout 1.1: Democracy Definitions
Complete the following statements. You may need the help of a friend, dictionary, or
encyclopedia.
An election is
Examples of elections I have participated in are
The next elections occurring in my community will be
A democracy is
A dictatorship is
A direct democracy is
An example of direct democracy is when
A representative democracy is
An example of representative democracy is
A right is
A responsibility is
A community is
Complete Handout 1.2 before completing these last two statements.
Voting is a right and a responsibility because
An election is

4. Handout 1.2: Rights & Responsibilities
Consider the pros, cons, and responsibilities that go along with being granted certain rights. Using
the first row as an example, complete the table below. Use the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms as well as the information that you have recorded above to brainstorm reasons why
voting is a right and a responsibility. Use your notes to summarize why voting is both a right and a
responsibility.
Right Pro Con Responsibility
You have the right to It is important to have Sometimes friends can You must stay true to
choose your own good friends you trust pressure you to do yourself and make
friends at school things you would not decisions based on
otherwise do your own comfort and
not somebody else’s
You have the right to You must be respectful You must take into
speak in class of others and consideration the
determine if your appropriateness or
opinions can be hurtful truthfulness of
to others opinions you hold
when sharing those
opinions in class
You have the right to a You can take risks,
safe classroom push yourself to be the
best you can be, and
you will not be bullied
or made fun of by
others
What is a right that
you have at home, at
school, or with
friends?
What is your right
regarding voting?

5. Handout 1.3: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Fundamental Fundamental rights include: the freedom of conscience and religion*;
Rights freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including freedom of
the press and other media**; freedom of peaceful assembly***; and
freedom of association.****
Democratic Democratic rights include: the right for every Canadian, 18 years of age or
Rights older, to vote in an election, to be a candidate; the requirement that no
government will continue for longer than five years without holding an
election; and that these governments meet at least once every year to
pass laws.
Mobility Mobility rights include: the right of every Canadian to choose to work and
Rights live in any province or territory in Canada; and the right of every Canadian
to live in, leave, and re-enter Canada whenever he or she chooses.
Legal Legal rights guarantee that Canadians, when arrested, must: be told of
Rights their right to see a lawyer; be tried within a reasonable amount of time;
and be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Equality It is against the law in Canada to discriminate against any Canadian on the
Rights basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental
or physical ability.
Official Languages All Canadians have the right to use either English or French in
Of Canada communications with Canada’s federal government and some of Canada’s
provincial governments.
Minority Language This right guarantees that French and English minorities in every province
Education Rights have the right to be educated in their own language.
* This means that Canadians are free to worship the religion of their choice or to not worship at all.
** This means that unless the media report something that is untrue, the media cannot be
prevented from reporting anything that happens inside Canada.
*** This means that Canadians can meet as a group in private or public provided that it is done so
in a non-violent and peaceful way.
**** This means that Canadians have the right to associate or befriend anyone they choose and
the government does not have the right to limit these associations.

6. Handout 1.4: A Voice in My Community
Use the provided resources to come up with ways that you can have a voice in your community.
From this source of I learned that there is a need Therefore, I can have a voice in
information… for… my community by…
I learned that other students
have…

7. Handout 1.5: Municipal Election Turnout
A total of 3,125,883 of the 8,098,294 qualified electors in the municipalities participating in the
Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks, and Treasurers of Ontario survey voted in the November
2006 municipal elections. This yields a weighted average turnout rate of 38.6%. The simple
average rate, calculated by adding up all the individual turnout rates and dividing this by the total
number of municipalities participating in the survey, was 41.9%. The discrepancy is explained by
the fact that smaller municipalities generally had higher turnout rates than more populous ones.
The table below shows the simple averages by population size.
The highest municipal turnout rate was 80.3%, the lowest, 7.8%.
% Turnout by Population in 2006 Municipal Election

8. Handout 1.6: Provincial & Federal Election Turnout
Historical Voter Turnout in Ontario Provincial General Elections Since 1971
General Date Number of Total Voter % of Eligible Voters List
Election No. Seats Turnout
29 1971 - 10 - 21 117 3 310 776 73.5
30 1975 - 09 - 18 125 3 324 334 67.8
31 1977 - 06 - 09 125 3 361 433 65.6
32 1981 - 03 - 19 125 3 203 281 58.0
33 1985 - 05 - 02 125 3 662 133 61.5
34 1987 - 09 - 10 130 3 803 969 62.7
35 1990 - 09 - 06 130 4 070 654 64.4
36 1995 - 06 - 08 130 4 200 522 63.0
37 1999 - 06 - 03 103 4 430 611 63.0
38 2003 - 10 - 02 103 4 528 167 56.8
39 2007 - 10 - 10 107 4 457 829 52.1
Turnout by Age Group in the 2004 and 2006 Federal General Elections

9. Handout 1.7: Volunteering in Ontario
% Volunteers by Type of Volunteer Activity
% of Volunteering Population and Average Hours Volunteered by Type of Organization
% Volunteers Reporting Motivations for Volunteering