In every election, human rights matter. From local schoolboard elections to presidential ones, voters have the chance to choose candidates who will fight for all people’s human rights, not work to undermine them. In the upcoming 2024 United States elections, fundamental human rights are at stake – like health care, a decent school for your kids, equal treatment at work regardless of how you look or who you love, a fair trial whether you are rich or poor, and the freedom to worship (or not). As candidates seek your vote, make sure they’re putting basic human rights front and center.
This fall, STFers are working to make sure our friends, families and community members know the power they have by voting. We’ll get people registered, recruit poll workers, invite everyone to participate in on-campus mock elections, and we’ll strive to make sure everyone’s vote is counted in this election!
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Educational Resources
Advocacy Goals: Click Each Image to Get Started
Voting Pledges
Mock Elections
In a mock election, high school students get to experience voting using a simplified ballot after receiving background information on the issues. This year, STF’s mock elections are focused on human rights at risk in the election. Invite teachers to bring their students to your mock election where they will hear a short presentation about how to vote for human rights, enter voting booths to cast their ballots, and take action by signing voter pledges and pre-registering to vote.
Not Eligible To Vote?
Here are some other ways you can participate:
- Pre-registered to vote in California, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin
- Talk to friends and family about voting
- Sign up to be a poll worker
- Sign up to be a Student Election Worker in LA County
- Research candidates’ positions on human rights
- Prepare for conversations with teachers and administrators to get events planned on campus
- Read about “A Simple Way You, Alone, Can Increase US Voter Turnout”
Take Action: If You Only Have...
60 seconds
5 minutes
- Get registered or pre-registered to vote in California, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin
- Sign up to be a poll worker
30 minutes
- Develop your Voting Plan
- Read HRW’s A Human Rights Guide to the 2024 US Elections
- Fill out your Personal Advocacy Planner: Your Network Connections to help Get Out the Vote
- Read about “Engaged & Disillusioned: Insights on Youth Turnout for 2024“
Educator's Portal - Lesson Plans
For educators interested in teaching students about their human right to vote, please explore the resources below.
How to Stay Nonpartisan
This article gives strategies and ideas for educators who want to teach the election without showing favor to one side or another. Linking to numerous lesson plans and resources, Learning For Justice offers teachers a great launching point on this page!
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Sciences
Grades: 9-10
Voting Voices Classroom
This curated collection features our best resources for civics education with a focus on elections and voting. The collection includes posters for students of all ages, along with videos, lessons, texts and student tasks for K-8 classrooms as well.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Sciences
Grades: K-12
Democracy Class
Democracy Class is a free, nonpartisan curriculum that educates high school students about the importance and history of voting and pre-registers and registers them to vote. Educators will have access to additional lesson plans on numerous topics.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Sciences
Grades: 9-12
Digital Literacy
The Learning for Justice Digital Literacy Framework offers seven key areas to support students in digital and civic literacy skills. Before we can teach students to become good citizens of the web, we need to teach them how it works and how it can mislead users.
Subjects: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Grades: 9-12