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Our Votes - Our Values

This lesson plan from the WVU Political Science Department is appropriate for West Virginia students grades 5-12 and is a project of Dr. Erik Herron, Eberly Family Distinguished Professor.

Credit to Base Camp Printing Co. for the "Our Vote — Our Values" poster graphic.

Using case studies, teachers can approach lessons on voting through different lenses to enhance their courses on civics, history, geography, and economics.

Teachers may elect to use the material in the sequence provided or, depending on their timeframe and goals, use one or two elements to fit into their existing lesson plans. Voting and the laws which govern voting practices are dynamic, and the information contained herein is accurate as of the time of publication.  

This lesson plan was developed by Dr. Herron and his team – Dr. Kristen Bailey, Hunter Neel, and Khrystyna Pelchar. The project is supported by funding from the West Virginia Humanities Council. 

Download the complete lesson plan:

"Our Vote — Our Values" Lesson Plan (DOCX) Terms and Definitions (DOCX)

Ballot stuff cartoon with turkey
Register to Vote

Case Study One:
Same Day Voter Registration

This lesson plan outlines a multi-pronged approach to discussing the history of voter registration processes, actions to broaden or limit voter registration, and debates surrounding Same Day Voter Registration with students.

View Case Study One
Ballot from 2008

Case Study Two:
Absentee Voters

This lesson plan outlines a multi-faceted approach to examining the history, development, and current practices of absentee voting and vote-by-mail elections. Students will explore how absentee voting has expanded over time, how policies differ across states, and how absentee voting in West Virginia fits into the broader national landscape.

View Case Study Two
State seal of West Virginia

Voting in
West Virginia

In this section, students will investigate the rules for voting in the state of West Virginia. By understanding their specific roles and responsibilities in terms of casting a ballot in their home state, students can better reflect on the differences between voting systems at home and in other states/nations. 

View Voting in West Virginia