Free and fair elections– where citizens trust the processes and the outcomes– are vital to democracy. However, election workers in the U.S. are increasingly concerned about false information being spread on social media and by politicians who claim the 2020 election was stolen. Nearly 75% election workers recently surveyed by the Brennan Center for Justice feel that threats against them have increased, with 30% reporting that they have personally experienced threats.
Who are the people who oversee elections, and how do they ensure the process is fair and secure? What do they want the public to know about how elections work?
In the U.S. there is not one unified national system for administering elections. Instead, they are largely run largely at the local level. In this activity you will reach out to local election worker and produce a 2-3 minute video profile of someone who has been administering elections for a long time (approximately 5 years or more), who can speak about the work they do and explain what they’ve witnessed over that time period in terms of public faith in how elections work.
Think about timing: Election day this year is Tuesday November 5, 2024. The sooner you reach out to an election worker the better, since they will likely be busier as election day approaches.
To complete the entire assignment, go HERE.
People are interested in other people. Everyone has something to celebrate and something to complain about. We like unusual stories of people who accomplish amazing feats or handle a life crisis because we can identify with them.
The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. A generally definition is the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling. In media-making, creators can have empathy for their subjects and the audience can empathize with the characters.
The story of one person, has voiceover (VO), b-roll, pictures, nats (natural sound), interviews of family members or peers of that one person.
The main person or character in a story. There can be multiple subjects in a story. The subject can also be the main theme of your story.
Civics
Elections
Projects
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Camera or Mobile Phone
Camera
Mobile Phone
2-4 Weeks
A profile is a story focusing primarily on one person. You want your profile to help the audience understand and see that person clearly.
Example of Profile: Voter Voices - Jason
Suggestion: Include the student reporter on camera, so viewers can see them speaking to the election official.
Here are some tips to making a good video profile:
Your county/city board of elections office
National Association of State Election Directors
National Association of Secretaries of State
Brennan Center for Justice Local Elections Survey (March 2022)
FOR EDUCATORS: Google Doc Version of Election Worker Lesson Plan
Once you have all your video clips, edit a 2-3 minute profile piece and upload it to a video platform of your choice and tag us!
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