Current Events Project #1

For your first political current  events project, I want you to learn about some very hot issues out on the campaign trail.  Jut about all observers are talking about voter identification laws & voter suppression.  What is it?  Some say that republicans are trying to keep certain people from voting in order to gain an advantage. Read the following articles & respond to the questions.   See the links below.  You may also find your own articles.  Here are some key terms. voter suppression, voter ID laws.

Vocab
Disenfranchise- to keep someone from voting
Swing State- a state whose electoral votes could go to either candidate in the general election because the popular vote of the citizens is so close.

Students need to respond to these questions in complete sentences.  Please word process your responses.
1) Why do republicans feel they need stricter voter registration & voter ID requirements?
2) What forms does voter suppression take?
3) What demographic groups are affected by voter suppression?  Are college students affected? How?
4)  Give two perspectives of why voter ID laws are being passed:  Give the democratic view & the republican view.  Which one of  the two do you come closest to believing?  Why?
5) Create a small poster on the back of your paper expressing what you think about voter suppression.

Use the following links to address the prompts above.  You may also find your own articles.

Links

Media Matters voter suppression overview
SF Gate Voter Suppression
Wikipedia Explains Voter Supression
Voter Suppression & Students