Post-Election Resources
Among many resources being published for faculty now, the ones below are especially concrete, concise, and well-referenced. For additional resources email BowdoinVotes.
This one is really the best: How Faculty can Prepare to Handle the Post-Election Classroom, by Nancy Thomas & Cazembe Kennedy, via Scholars Strategy Network
From the Campus Election Engagement Project:
- The Road Ahead: Processing the 2020 Election with Your Classes — Chronologically-organized resource for faculty to support students’ processes after Election Day.
- Common Questions after Election Day: A Student Guide —FAQ to walk students through questions that my arise in the days after Election Day.
- Sample Message To Classes — Suggested language for faculty who want to address the election with their classes but are constrained from holding real-time discussions.
Election Trust Project – messaging and resources to build trust and confidence in this year’s election process, from the National Conference on Citizenship
How To Help Students Become Active Citizens
Preparing students for active citizenship is part of Bowdoin’s mission, and any staff or faculty member who works with students can make a difference. Here are some simple tactics:
- Ask students, “where are you voting this fall?” Ask about their plan to vote (where/how/when, and deadlines). Invite ineligible students to mobilize voters through the love vote.
- Ask students how they are participating in democracy, beyond voting. Following up on the question,
- If they express ambivalence, remind them that their voice/vote/involvement can make a difference (eg close elections, local needs to make democracy work)
- If they express uncertainty about choosing which state they want to vote in, we have a tool to help them decide
- If they are unsure how to proceed, our TurboVote tool makes it easy, and we are happy to answer questions.
- If they are enthusiastic, encourage them to email BV and be a volunteer Voting Captain this fall
Ideas for Faculty:
Update 10/23: New voter info slides for the final days before the election.
- Put Election Day and/or other election info on your syllabus calendar (see syllabus samples)
- Discuss your attendance policy for election day – what if students need to vote in person? Or want to be a poll worker?
- Add our quick Fall 2020 voter info slides to one of your lectures (and watch for updated version in early October).
- Show a tiny motivating video (1:23)
- Have students write about/discuss the public relevance of your discipline and the course topic.
- Talk about Elections in class (guidance).
- Here are more resources to help you promote civic learning and participation.