[VIDEO] Civic Literacy Encouraged with Series of Voting Videos
Every time you don’t show up, every time you don’t vote, someone else is happy to make a decision for you.
Produced by: Sauce W8ed Down Shot by: Bangout Films Directed by: YelloPain & Bangout Films Edited by: YelloPain Co-Created by: Desiree Tims
Election years pose unique opportunities for educators to provide real-time examples about how governments are structured, election issues, and voter rights.
Seeds of Literacy is no exception. To help our adult learners understand the critical importance of voting as a means to influence their world, Site Coordinator Chris Richards prepared a series of short videos to help him explain.
Why YOUR Vote Matters
“The Presidential Election of 2000 was decided by fewer than 500 votes. More people attend classes at Seeds of Literacy in a single year,” he said. “Local elections are often decided by just one or two votes!”
How To Register To Vote
In the second video, Chris walks viewers through registration, step by step. You will learn:
- How to check if you are already registered to vote
- How to register online and what you need to do it
- How to register by mail – where to get the registration form, how to fill it out, and what to do when you are done.
Voting By Mail Is An Option For Everyone
There has been a huge increase in interest in voting by mail. Chris uses the third video to explain :
- How to apply for the mail in ballot
- What to do when the ballot arrives
- How to make sure the ballot gets returned to the Board of Elections in time to be counted on Election Day.
What To Expect When Voting In Person
If this is your first time voting, it can be confusing. When registering, voters are assigned a polling place in their local neighborhood. If you’re unsure where your polling place is located, visit the Board of Election’s website: https://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/ and click “Where do I vote?”
In this video, Chris prepares you for voting day by explaining
- What you need to bring with you
- Where you will go once you’ve arrived at the polling center
- What happens when you are handed your ballot
- Scanning your ballot when it is complete
Misinformation, Myths, and Questions about Voting
We receive information in so many ways and it’s possible that the information we hear is out of date, not relevant to our area, or is just plain incorrect. In this video, Chris addresses:
- Concerns about mail-in voting
- Voting without a driver’s license
- Voting while incarcerated vs. Voting with a conviction
- Non-partisan resources to learn about candidates on both sides such as Judge4Yourself and Ballotpedia.org/Ohio.