She Votes is an educational, nonpartisan Girls Inc. initiative that supports girls of all ages to gain the skills and confidence to be future voters, candidates, and political leaders.
We know that girls are born leaders, but girls need support and experiences to help them make the most of their potential. She Votes is a Girls Inc. initiative that allows girls to see all the ways leadership can be expressed through civic engagement, from learning how legislators make decisions at all levels of government to how those decisions impact girls’ lives.
She Votes covers a variety of topics, including a main focus on the importance of women in politics. Girls explore representative democracy, look at the representation by women and people of color in our national government, and explore various leadership qualities and female leaders. From there, girls explore suffrage and who qualifies to vote now, how to become a voter, evaluating candidates and confronting gender stereotypes, and look critically at campaign advertising. Girls also participate in activities that allow them to put themselves in the position as a candidate. They analyze the causes and effects of issues in their community and their relationship to candidate positions, learn to create a candidate speech, analyze and create campaign ads, and learn to gain financial and other support through networking.
Exploring Leadership Experiences
Trained staff expose girls to the excitement of government and running for office through relevant activities, speakers, and events. In every election since 2004, girls at Girls Inc. affiliates have researched candidates, held mock debates, met with elected officials, visited polling places, and even registered voters. Although designed for delivery in the United States, She Votes is also adapted for delivery in Canada as well.
This year, many of the Girls Inc. Network events and activities will be implemented virtually with resources available to support affiliates and their girls in participating in She Votes during the 2020 U.S. presidential election season. Girls will receive a comprehensive and enriching experience through activities crafted to educate, engage, and inspire them around civic engagement. Affiliates are coordinating speakers, events, and field trips, when and where appropriate, that will expose girls to the excitement as well as the nuts and bolts of running for political office.
Resources
Voter Registration with Girls Inc. – From your local school board to the Senate, it’s important to vote in every election. Take the first step via the Girls Inc. voter registration portal created with When We All Vote. Take just a few minutes to make sure your voice is heard!
She Votes Zoom Background #1 and #2 – Download our vote themed Girls Inc. Zoom backgrounds and use them in your upcoming virtual calls in support of girls getting civically engaged!
Cox Enterprises Election Center – Girls Inc. national partner Cox Enterprises has created a landing page of free tools to help inform people of their voter status, timeline and important deadlines for their state, options for absentee voting, and more.
Take Action to Help Protect Our Elections – People should not be forced to risk their health to exercise their right to vote. Email your Members of Congress today and ask them to provide states with at least $4 billion in the next COVID-19 relief package to ensure fair and safe elections in November!
When We All Vote Pledge – Sign the voting principles pledge and help fight for fair, safe, and accessible voting for all Americans.
COVID-19 & Voting – Monitor your state’s local election office for real-time updates on voter registration, deadlines, absentee ballot information, polling places and election dates.
Voting Rules by State – Know your state’s voting rules, from identification requirements to provisions for voters with special needs and language assistance, and emergency procedures.
This post was originally featured on the Girls Inc. National website.