3.5 Resource spotlight: Exploring Elections oter 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)
• Resources 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 a link to the full slide deck and guides for these workshops.