Future Voters - Discussion Guide - Can We Do to Help Bring Out the Vote?

Sep 21, 2026

Discussion guide for the 1952 election focused on increasing voter turnout. It explains voting as both an obligation and privilege of American citizenship, recalls historical struggles for the right to vote, and contrasts declining domestic participation with higher voting rates in other free countries. Using vote-rate comparisons and common reasons for not voting, it outlines practical ways for students and families to register, learn polling locations, enlist neighbors, and motivate eligible citizens to cast ballots on election day.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

WHAT DISCUSSION GUIDE

CAN WE DO to HELP BRING OUT THE VOTE?

America’s Voting Record

Why?

What’s the answer to that?

The 1952 Election

WHAT CAN WE DO?

MARYGROVE CCLLEGE LIBRAG DETROIT,MICHIGAN Future VotersA Service of the Center forInformation on America,Washington,Connecticut.October,1952Vol.2,No.2WHAT DISCUSSION GUIDE CAN WE DOTO HELP BRING0UT THE VOTE?Though we're still in school,there's need for help fromyoung people in this year's campaign to bring-oUt-the-vote. There's a vital need.Right now! It's a need,an obligation,and a privilege becausewe're American citizens. "Government of the people,by the people,for thepeople“—our type of government—bases itself on thefundamental principle that every adult citizen has a voicein how our republic shall be run. At election time,each citizen's voice is his vote.Americans gained the right to vote—the right to gov-ern themselves—through bitter struggle and sacrifice.They fought and died for the right at Lexington andConcord,at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood.And inthe last great war,at Omaha Beach. Today in Korea Americans are still fighting for theseideals. Only through eternal vigilance and a willingness tosacrifice can mankind win and keep freedom. But each person's vote itself is something we some-times get careless about. Lately we Americans,despite our love of self-govern-ment,haven't done so well about showing up at thepolls. Let's do better this year! For a discussion of ways to help,please furn over thepage. AMERICA’S VOTING RECORD But first,let's take a look at the record. We reached our peak in the 1880 presidential election,when 78.4%of all United States citizens eligible to votecast their ballots on election day. Since then,as far as voting goes,we've been slidingdown a distressing(and dangerous!)decline: Percentage of those actually going to the polls compared with those staying away* Non-voters Year Voters In 1900 73.5% 26.5% "1920* 50.7% 49.3% "1940 53.4% 46.6% ”1948* 51.0% 49.0% The score in local elections is much worse.If you takean average cver the nation for recent municipal,county,state and congressional elections,the results show thatonly 20%of eligible voters actually went to the polls.Four out of every five stayed away. # How about other Nations? How does our record in actual voting compare withthat of other free countries—countries where people,aswith us,can vote as they please? Glance at the score card prepared by the AmericanHeritage Foundation and see for yourself: The Score ElsewhereCountryDate of ElectionPercent VotingFrance(Oct.1945)75%Italy(Apr.1948)89%Canada(June,1949)75%Belgium(Mar.1950)90%Japan(June,1950)71%Israel(July,1951)72%Sweden(Sept.1951)80%England(Oct.1951)83% # Why? Why have we Americans fallen into this bad habit ofnot turning up at the polls? Some people say they don't go to the polls becausethey're sure their"one little vote"really doesn't matter.What's a single vote when so many are cast? What are the answers we could give to anyone whotells us that? Some non-voters say things are going along fairenough;the country's pretty well governed.So whybother to vote? What's the answer to that argument that there's noneed to bother? Some say conditions are so terrible(corruption,dis-honesty in office,exorbitant taxes,poor schools,terribleforeign policy,etc.,etc.,etc.!)that they'll have nothingto do with it all!They won't vote! # What's the answer to that? Some say they are too busy with important mattersto take time out to vote. Whats'the answer to that? Some say they're all mixed up about the issues,andbesides they don't know much about the candidates,sothey don't feel competent to vote. What's the answer to that? # The 1952 Election This year's campaign for the Presidency of the UnitedStates makes 1952 one of the most exciting Presidentialyears we've ever had.Right from the time,last summer,when we discovered through television how fascinatingit can be actually to sit in on national nominating con-ventions,we've seen this country's excitement and in-terest grow. General Eisenhower and G

FAQs

Why does the guide emphasize that voting matters?

It frames voting as an obligation and privilege of American citizenship and ties it to the principle that every adult citizen has a voice in how the republic is run.

How does the guide compare U.S. voting turnout with other nations?

It argues that Americans have been sliding away from polling participation and presents a score card showing higher voting percentages in several other free countries.

What practical steps does the guide recommend to help bring people out to vote?

It suggests starting within one’s family to confirm registration and encourage turnout, then extending outreach to neighbors by reminding them to vote and helping ensure they know where their polling place is.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ava Thompson