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Non-Citizens and the Election
Dieuseul Camille
BEFORE YOU READ:
1. Read the headings in this article. What argument do you think the writer will make about non-citizens and the election?
2. Share what you know about the upcoming election. What is important to you about it?
You Can Participate
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you might think that you can’t participate in a U.S. election. But you can! How?
Debate and Discuss
There are many things you can do. You can have debates and discussions. You can set up little meetings with friends. You can talk about the issues that are important to you. You can set up meetings at school, at church, or at work.
Motivate and Support
Also, you can try to motivate your friends who are U.S. citizens to vote. At my job, I have many friends who can vote. I will organize a meeting with them. I will tell them to vote! I will ask them, “Which candidates will do a good job?” I will make sure they register to vote and they know where to go to vote.
You Can Do a Lot
Voting is an obligation for all citizens! Even if you cannot vote, there is still a lot you can do. I suggest you help educate people about the issues and make sure that everyone around you votes!
AFTER YOU READ:
1. According to the author, what can non-citizens do to participate in elections?
2. What does obligation mean? What do you think about the author’s statement that voting is an obligation for all citizens? Read the article on p. 17 for more on voting as an obligation.
3. Read the article on pp. 4-5 (beginner level) or p. 3 (intermediate level) about voting being a right and responsibility. Discuss.
Dieuseul Camille is a student at the Community Learning Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is from Haiti, and he came to the U.S. in 2014. He thinks that voting is important because he has seen how many bad things can happen in the government and believes that voting helps people choose a good leader who will do the right things. This piece was originally published in “Stand Up and Be Counted,” Issue #50.
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