SUMMARY

Preparations for elections can take months or years. From registering voters to maintaining voting machines, it is carried out by state and local jurisdictions, with support from the federal government. But in this election year, the agency that helps those efforts is effectively unable to function. Geoff Bennett spoke with Thomas Hicks, who served on the Election Assistance Commission.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is Thomas Hicks, and what is his background?
2. What role does the Election Assistance Commission serve during elections?
3. Where can the lack of trust civilians have toward the credibility of voting polls be come from, according to Hicks?
4. When is the next election taking place?
5. Why does Hicks believe that having veterans as poll workers will draw greater attention from non-veterans in voting during election season?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. How do you think the federal government could best protect fair elections?
2. What do you think leads the most to doubt about election integrity in the United States?

Media literacy: Read over the following image on bipartisan agreement over government responsibility. After reviewing the image, ask yourself:

• What surprised you the most in the chart?
• Who seems to have the most skepticism toward elections?

[Web Photo - Pew Research Center]

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

It is important to understand that even as young students, understanding the roles different branches of government play is crucial to gaining political literacy. Break up into small groups and select one political group as follows:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• City Government

After the group has made their selection, take time to research more on the different branches that exist within the form of government selected. Understand who your government type serves and what each branches overarching goal is. Once you are finished, share with the class your discoveries.

Written by PBS News Hour Classroom Intern Justin Vasquez with editing from Luke Gerwe

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