What Students Should Know About Off-Year Election 2023
Ask students: Why do you think voter turnout is lower in off-year elections? Do you think we need to make it easier for people to vote?
This year, election day is November 7, 2023. While elections will take place for local and some state-wide offices and include ballot initiatives, this year is what is called an off-year election, or year with no national-level elections. Still there's quite a few key votes happening across the country this year. Read more for some details on local and state elections with important national implications.
Key Facts
- In an off-year election, there may not be any national (general) or midterm elections, but there's plenty of important local and state races!
- Ballot initiatives and referendums are also on the ballots in many states:
- Virginia's Loudoun County has ballot intiatives on parks and recreation, school and transportation issues and (look at this real sample ballot)
- Texas and Maine have ballot initiatives on whether or not fossil fuels will have more control over state grids (Mainers will also be voting on whether to allow foreign government's financial spending and influence over elections)
- Ohio has a referendum on abortion rights, specifically whether or not the right to an abortion will become part of the state constitution
- Kentucky's governor race is also one to watch!
Election 2023 Activity Instructions
Choose one of these articles to read so you can find out what's going in state races across the country:
- What to expect in Virginia’s 2023 legislative elections
- What to expect in Texas’s 2023 general election
Ask students:
- Do the issues and themes resonate with what you are seeing in their state? Were you surprised at the ballot initiatives? Why or why not?
- Why do you think voter turnout is lower in off-year elections?
- Do you think we need to make it easier for people to vote? Mail-in voting or early voting? Explain.
Teaching the Election Process: Lesson Plans and Resources
It's election season in the United States and a good time to teach students about the election process and why local, state and federal elections matter. Explore topics covering election fundamentals, election law and security, youth engagement, famous U.S. elections and more.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
