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Get Out and Vote!: How You Can Shape the Future
Explore the past, present and future of voting around the world, and why it's one of the most important things we can do as citizens.
In Get Out and Vote!, discover how voting affects everyone's life, what election day looks like, why some people don’t cast a ballot and more. Did you know a ping-pong ball once decided an election or that the government in Ancient Greece voted by shouting? From elections and politics to voter suppression and accessible ballots, there is so much to explore when it comes to voting. With profiles of young people who are making the vote count, this book will empower young people of all backgrounds to make their voices heard.
In Get Out and Vote!, discover how voting affects everyone's life, what election day looks like, why some people don’t cast a ballot and more. Did you know a ping-pong ball once decided an election or that the government in Ancient Greece voted by shouting? From elections and politics to voter suppression and accessible ballots, there is so much to explore when it comes to voting. With profiles of young people who are making the vote count, this book will empower young people of all backgrounds to make their voices heard.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published March 14, 2023
7 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth MacLeod
112 books32 followersElizabeth MacLeod was born on October 21 in Toronto. As a child Liz liked to read Nancy Drew and Anne of Green Gables books, swim, sing, dance, and hang out with her friends. Encouraged by her parents, she began writing stories and poetry for her own enjoyment at the age of 10, her favorite subjects being mad scientists and tyrants who threatened to take over the world.
Today Liz is inspired by almost anything--her friends, reading, and the funny, beautiful world around her. Her first job in publishing was at OWL magazine, and Liz credits editor Sylvia Funston as one of her mentors. Liz also names Valerie Wyatt, a writer and editor, as an important influence on her work, as well as a good friend.
An avid reader, Liz enjoyed digging up amazing facts and researching historic royals and their countries and customs for Royal Murder (2008). She encourages anyone with a desire to write to "just do it." Even if no one ever reads it, the joy that comes from expressing yourself through words is reward enough. Liz adds that writing takes practice, and with each day you are bound to improve.
Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their two cats, Smedley and Cosmo.
She enjoys keeping active, spending time with friends, music, theater, and cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Liz plans to continue writing about a broad spectrum of topics in both fiction and non-fiction, and would like to work on more picture books in the future.
Today Liz is inspired by almost anything--her friends, reading, and the funny, beautiful world around her. Her first job in publishing was at OWL magazine, and Liz credits editor Sylvia Funston as one of her mentors. Liz also names Valerie Wyatt, a writer and editor, as an important influence on her work, as well as a good friend.
An avid reader, Liz enjoyed digging up amazing facts and researching historic royals and their countries and customs for Royal Murder (2008). She encourages anyone with a desire to write to "just do it." Even if no one ever reads it, the joy that comes from expressing yourself through words is reward enough. Liz adds that writing takes practice, and with each day you are bound to improve.
Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their two cats, Smedley and Cosmo.
She enjoys keeping active, spending time with friends, music, theater, and cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Liz plans to continue writing about a broad spectrum of topics in both fiction and non-fiction, and would like to work on more picture books in the future.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 28, 2023
Elizabeth MacLeod challenges the young in elementary-upper grades through the seventh grade to vote and appreciate the value of elections, even student-government elections. After all, she says, people have fought and died for the right to have a voice in self-governance! Can we do anything less?
MacLeod brings us into a very Canadian appreciation of the roles of citizens in the election process, not only in Canada and the USA, but also provides examples and accounts from around the world. Her short chapters inform, instruct, and hopefully motivate all readers to become responsible citizens and add voice to the processes of governance, beginning with voting. So, did you vote in the last election? Why or why not? Then see what MacLeod has to say about reasons people give.
Elizabeth MacLeod writes for Scholastic-Canada. Years ago, when in elementary school, I remember ordering Scholastic books at school in California. They were an important committment to my love of learning. This lead to attending city council meetings and local city committees, then at 14, beginning to work on political campaigns. I later became a deputy-registrar of voters, co-chairing a, county-approved, voter-registration campaign after the voting age was lowered to 18. This book was, for me, a walk down memory lane. Four Stars **** for MacLeod’s inspirational efforts. :)
MacLeod brings us into a very Canadian appreciation of the roles of citizens in the election process, not only in Canada and the USA, but also provides examples and accounts from around the world. Her short chapters inform, instruct, and hopefully motivate all readers to become responsible citizens and add voice to the processes of governance, beginning with voting. So, did you vote in the last election? Why or why not? Then see what MacLeod has to say about reasons people give.
Elizabeth MacLeod writes for Scholastic-Canada. Years ago, when in elementary school, I remember ordering Scholastic books at school in California. They were an important committment to my love of learning. This lead to attending city council meetings and local city committees, then at 14, beginning to work on political campaigns. I later became a deputy-registrar of voters, co-chairing a, county-approved, voter-registration campaign after the voting age was lowered to 18. This book was, for me, a walk down memory lane. Four Stars **** for MacLeod’s inspirational efforts. :)
March 4, 2024
I thought this was very good. I liked all the details about elections in different countries.
I remember the start of the "rock your vote" campaign. I was very anti it... As an older human now, I wish I had started paying more attention back then. This book is a lot more interesting than those ads. 😊
I recommend younger people (but really anyone) read it and then discuss it with the folks in your life.
I remember the start of the "rock your vote" campaign. I was very anti it... As an older human now, I wish I had started paying more attention back then. This book is a lot more interesting than those ads. 😊
I recommend younger people (but really anyone) read it and then discuss it with the folks in your life.
October 16, 2023
A very successful book that doesn't demand any particular political thinking of the young reader, only that they are politicised enough to vote. The reasons for voting, what actually happens on election day, how and when we all got suffrage (or how we remain under a dictator) – there is so much here, and some wonderful trivia, such as the real derivation of the word 'candidate' and the country that still seems intent on making sure women have their own election centres to vote away from male influence.
This is only really activist inasmuch as it points out the problems of low turn-outs, the ease with which schools mock-up elections, and visits with parents to the polling stations, can suggest the ease and fairness of the whole process, and so on. OK, there is an obvious bias towards the left in the world, not the book, in getting young people active politically – it's not a blue-haired pensioner who will be on their socials, showing off their "I voted!!" sticker. It is certainly not the habit of the more centrist and right-wing parties to want to reduce the voting age.
But that doesn't mean this is any the worse for discussing such issues. They point out, very fairly, that those who vote in the first election they are enfranchised for will continue voting all their life, like as not. The voting habit is obviously an important one to get, but first to understand. There is a good chunk of the world, after all, where attending ballots is compulsory, so the best thing is that everyone is clued in to what it entails and why it is held in such esteem. And these pages deliver that information really concisely and succinctly. School libraries really should have this, or something very much like it, available. And as I know no better, I say they should have this.
This is only really activist inasmuch as it points out the problems of low turn-outs, the ease with which schools mock-up elections, and visits with parents to the polling stations, can suggest the ease and fairness of the whole process, and so on. OK, there is an obvious bias towards the left in the world, not the book, in getting young people active politically – it's not a blue-haired pensioner who will be on their socials, showing off their "I voted!!" sticker. It is certainly not the habit of the more centrist and right-wing parties to want to reduce the voting age.
But that doesn't mean this is any the worse for discussing such issues. They point out, very fairly, that those who vote in the first election they are enfranchised for will continue voting all their life, like as not. The voting habit is obviously an important one to get, but first to understand. There is a good chunk of the world, after all, where attending ballots is compulsory, so the best thing is that everyone is clued in to what it entails and why it is held in such esteem. And these pages deliver that information really concisely and succinctly. School libraries really should have this, or something very much like it, available. And as I know no better, I say they should have this.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews