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As a class, discuss an issue that is important to the students and about which they have strong beliefs. This might be a complex issue (such as climate change) or a simple one (such as the date and location of the school formal).
- Divide the class in half and tell students that only half the class will be allowed to vote on this issue today.
- Ask the non-voting half of the class to become the observers, at which point they must remain silent.
- Have the voting half of the class discuss the issue. Ask them to come up with a yes/no question about this issue to be voted on, and conduct a ballot-style vote.
Ask the students:
- if you were unable to vote, how did it feel when others were discussing the issue? What did you want to share but couldn’t?
- if you were able to vote, how did it feel to have that right when others did not?
- how could you hold a debate but make it a more equal experience?
Ask the students to conduct a debate in class, arguing for or against the proposition that the voting age be reduced to 15.