First Vote

"Routinely we receive information from other youth focused programs and always come back to First Vote as the best . . . to put our energies into."

--Stephanie Gonzales
Secretary of State
of New Mexico

First Vote Surpasses 10,000 Teacher Mark!

More than 10,000 teachers in schools across the nation, have used First Vote materials to educate and register hundreds of thousands of students. Nearly 1/3 of all high schools in the country have used First Vote in their civic education efforts. We are now closer than ever to ensuring that all students graduate high school registered and prepared to vote. We would like to thank all educators who have taken part in First Vote. We also encourage new teachers to register with our program and take advantage of our free educational materials! Teacher participation is crucial to the success of the program. It also underscores the need for youth voter education in the classroom. We applaud all our 10,000 teachers, and look forward to working with 10,000 more!

About First Vote

First Vote is a nonpartisan, classroom-based voter registration, education, and citizenship program for high school students. The program, designed for use in one or two class periods, gives students and teachers an opportunity to discuss the relationship between voting and other duties and responsibilities of citizenship. The Close Up Foundation, in partnership with the American Express Foundation, provides teachers with an inspirational First Vote video and Teacher's Resource Guide free of charge. In return, teachers agree to make First Vote an ongoing part of the social studies curriculum and give eligible students an opportunity to register to vote in the classroom.

Why Participate?

First Vote was created to help reverse the decline in voting and inspire young people to become informed and engaged citizens. In 1972, almost 50 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds voted, but in the 2000 election, only 33 percent went to the polls. Less than half of 18- and 19-year-olds are even registered to vote. As part of the Close Up Foundation's commitment to civic education, First Vote strives to introduce students to the power of voting, one classroom at a time.

The Video

The inspiring, 14-minute First Vote video dramatizes the power of voting and citizen participation. It includes vivid, moving, contemporary and historical footage including the events of September 11, the 2000 presidential election, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the passage of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which lowered the voting age to 18. It also features compelling commentary and insights by the students and principal of a New York City high school that was located only a few blocks from the World Trade Center. In addition to discussing voting, the video challenges students to think about their other rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Teacher's Resource Guide

The concise booklet format is designed for use with high school seniors, most of whom will be eligible to vote. It is appropriate for students of different skill levels and backgrounds. Suggested exercises and questions are related to the topics covered in the First Vote video, ranging from the struggle for voting rights in American history to the importance of citizenship and voting in the aftermath of the events of September 11.

Click here to view the First Vote Teacher's Resource Guide online.(.pdf)
Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

Cost

First Vote is free.

The Close Up Foundation provides schools with a First Vote video and Teacher's Resource Guide free of charge provided that a commitment is made to make First Vote an ongoing part of the social studies curriculum.

Sign On!

Bring First Vote to your high school or school district. (Teachers and Educators only) Online Report Card

For teachers who have already used the First Vote Video in your classroom, please take a minute to fill out the online report card. This is vital for us to track the success of the program, and to continue to provide materials such as this video in the future.

First Vote is a civic education program of the Close Up Foundation in partnership with the American Express Foundation.