Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. Based on the visual above, what has happened to the overall voting rate since 1964?

2. Based on the visual above, what was the voting rate for people with an educational attainment of a bachelors degree or more in 2020?

3. Based on the visual above, what was the voting rate for people with an educational attainment of less than 9th grade in 2020?

4. Think about it. If 8th graders (not that you would admit to knowing any) were allowed to vote, what do you predict their voting rate would be?

5. Based on the visual above, draw one conclusion about the impact of education on voting.

6. Why do you think that is?

7. Explain how the disparity in voting rates based on educational attainment impacts the policy our government makes.

8. Make a claim about what would happen if voting rates based on educational attainment were flipped (i.e., the more educated people voted less, the less educated people voted more).

9. Based on the visual below, does educational attainment or age have a bigger impact on voting rates?

10. Based on the data in the visual below about the portion of Americans of the voting-age population who voted in 2020, Make a claim about whether that is good or bad for democracy.

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Get educated (18 years). Register to vote online (two minutes). Vote (it depends).

Get Creative

Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that has three lines. It has five syllables in the first and third lines. It has seven syllables in the second line. Its lines don't rhyme. Write a Haiku about education and voting that you can share with older family members.

Learning Extension*