3.5 Resource spotlight: Exploring Elections voter registration workshop

These Exploring Elections workshops are broken down by nation, and provide you with a slide deck and activities to get young people registered to vote. Here is a suggested plan for using this workshop as part of a voter registration drive in a youth group setting. You will need 45 to 60 minutes to deliver it, depending on the size and needs of your group.

What You’ll Need:

• Slide deck (attached – includes all workshop guidance and materials)
• Worksheets (Making a Decision, priorities sheet, or pen and paper)
• Scissors (if cutting out priorities)
• Resource roundup: Voter registration resources

Purpose

To help learners understand the value and purpose of participating in elections by voting. The workshop develops their voices, builds enthusiasm for voting, and provides practical guidance on how to register – including applying for a Voter Authority Certificate if needed.

How It Works:

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Welcome learners and introduce Exploring Elections.

Activity – Making a Decision (15–25 minutes)

• Define your terms (5 minutes): As a class, agree on definitions for the terms provided.
• Rank your priorities (5 minutes): Individually, rank the different areas from most to least important (using cut-outs, worksheet, or pen and paper).
• Compromise with others (10 minutes): In pairs, compare and merge priority lists. Work to persuade each other and agree on a compromise stack.
• Compromise again (10 minutes): Pairs join with others to form bigger groups, repeating the compromise process. Continue until a whole-class compromise is reached (or time runs out).

Plenary – How can I have an impact? (10 minutes)

• Draw together the activity to reflect on how collective decision-making relates to elections.

Registering to Vote (15–20 minutes)

• Introducing voting (5 minutes): Brief explanation of why registering matters.
• Completing registration and survey (10–15 minutes): Give learners time to register if eligible, and apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if necessary.

Optional Extensions

• The Paper Bin Game (10–15 minutes – described in next section).
• Recap and review (5–10 minutes).
• Discussion questions (scattered throughout the slide deck for use if time allows).

Take Action Together:

• Encourage them to share what they learned with peers and family to spread awareness of voting.

Click here for slide decks and guides for these workshops.