New ServiceVote Youth Voter Education Toolkit Released for National Voter Education Week (October 7-11)

October 10, 2024 | Volume 31, No. 40 | Published Weekly Since 1994

With nearly 8.3 million Americans having turned 18 since the 2022 election, voter education plays a vital role in ensuring that these new voters are prepared to navigate the voting process and make informed decisions. Encouraging youth to engage in discussions with their peers about key issues, researching candidates, and understanding how voting impacts their communities can create a ripple effect that strengthens our democracy.

This National Voter Education Week Voting Checklist will help you navigate the voting process with ease. You will find practical steps and tools to help you register to vote, understand your ballot, and locate your polling place. By becoming an informed voter and encouraging others to do the same, you contribute to a more robust democracy.

Register to vote! Registering to vote is like RSVPing to democracy’s party—your invitation to have a say in shaping the future!

Get to know your ballot! Know your ballot, know your power—research candidates, understand initiatives, and cut through the noise to vote smart.

Make a plan to vote! Whether it’s hitting the polls early or on Election Day, mailing in your ballot, or ensuring you have the right ID, preparation ensures your voice is heard around your own schedule.

Understand the process! Gain confidence in your vote by understanding the process: from election rules to ballot counting, knowledge empowers your voice at the polls.

Share with your friends and family! People are more likely to vote when encouraged by someone they know and trust! Share knowledge with loved ones to empower them in the electoral process.

As we wrap up National Voter Education Week, consider what actions you can take moving forward. Make sure you know when early voting starts in your state. For eligible voters, there may be time to do more voter education before starting get out the vote activities. For younger age groups, it’s never too early to teach about our democracy and the importance of civic engagement. Use these great resources to empower youth with knowledge and encourage them to participate in the democratic process:

Rock the Vote – Democracy Class

Teaching for Democracy Alliance – Instruction on Elections and Voting

iCivics - Election Headquarters

Learning to Give – Voting and Civic Participation Toolkit

Learning for Justice – Future Voters Project

Scholastic - Election 2024

Get the ServiceVote Youth Voter Education Toolkit

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD

How to Help Hurricane Milton Survivors After the Storm

Hurricane Milton was a powerful Category 3 when it made landfall, and the storm tore a path of destruction across Florida.

Here's How to Help Victims of Hurricane Milton

Here's a list of charities and nonprofit groups that are accepting donations.

CIRCLE estimates that 50% of young people ages 18-29 voted in the 2020 presidential election, but we can continue to increase these numbers through targeted education and peer-to-peer initiatives!

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How You Can Shape the 2024 Election As a High School Student

Gen Z's impact on the 2024 election is huge. Here's how you can get involved - whether you're eligible to vote yet or not. Whether or not you are old enough to vote, you should know that your actions could make all the difference in this and all future elections.

Ways to Get Young People Involved in Elections

Understanding civics helps young people see themselves in society. From volunteering in the community to registering to vote, young people of all ages can learn about civic engagement.

GRANTS & AWARDS

YSA Afterschool Service-Learning Experience - Deadline: October 18

Are you ready to elevate your afterschool program to new heights? Thanks to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, YSA is offering an exclusive opportunity for afterschool professionals to enhance their skills in engaging youth in meaningful service-learning projects. Program includes an online service-learning course through Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College ($150 value), a $100 stipend, and a $200 project implementation grant.

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2025 Civic Season Design Fellowship - Deadline: November 1

Made By Us is accepting applications for the 2025 Civic Season Design Fellowship starting October 1st! This opportunity allows young people (ages 18-30) to help co-design Civic Season, a national initiative that promotes civic engagement, running from Juneteenth to July 4th. Fellows contribute 4 hours weekly from January to July 2025, receive a $1,500 stipend, and work with cultural institutions. No prior experience is needed—just passion!

STORIES OF SERVICE

Everyday Young Hero: Sophie Rinzler

Sophie Rinzler (16 | Chappaqua, New York) has lived with type 1 diabetes for nearly 13 years, and has experienced the many different emotions that accompany growing up with an autoimmune disorder with no cure. From a young age, Sophie had been very involved with the local chapter of Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), participating in advocacy events and fundraising on their behalf. Realizing how isolating T1D was—youth with type 1 are at an increased risk of developing other health disorders such as depression and anorexia—Sophie wanted to provide a virtual safe space where children and teens could access the crucial peer support they needed. In 2020, she partnered with Adriana Richard, a peer who also lives with T1D, to create T1D To The Third.

T1D To The Third is an online support group for type 1 diabetics across the globe. Each month they host calls tailored to different age groups: littles (ages 4-8), preteens (ages 9-12), and teens (ages 13-20). Sophie is involved in all aspects of these calls, from planning activities and conducting outreach to helping provide a place of solace and connection for participants. Over the past four years, more than 500 youth from nine countries have joined the T1D To The Third community! Sophie is now looking for ways to grow the T1D support community, including making calls more accessible for people without reliable internet and technology access, increasing outreach to communities with high rates of T1D, and creating programming for parents and siblings of youth with T1D. Outside of the support group, Sophie is dedicated to continuing to advocate and fundraise for action on diabetes as she leads the next generation of diabetes advocates and leaders, helping them realize both their potential and their community.

RESOURCES & TRAININGS

12 Ways to Teach the 2024 Election With The New York Times

Join our election-related forums, create a multimedia project, monitor misinformation, talk to journalists and more.

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Learning to Give Civic Skills Tools

These guides teach the knowledge and skills of responsible citizenship to grow agency for using our voices, having critical conversations, and making informed decisions.