Election Day

Children's Literature

In this nonfiction offering, we learn what Election Day is and that those running for office are called candidates. In the U.S. Election Day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. Those who are eligible to vote do so at a polling place. Those who cannot come to a polling place may vote by absentee ballot. The methods of voting vary from using punched cards, to marking ballots and even electronic touch screens. Election Day was set for a Tuesday in November to allow people time to get to poling places—travel was much more difficult 150 years ago. Also November was selected because the U.S. was an agrarian nation and this was a good time for farmers to travel since most of the farm work was done and the harsh days of winter had not yet arrived. Not everyone in the U.S. has been eligible to vote. It wasn't until 1920 that women could vote and only a few years later that Native Americans were also given this right. Among the more important messages conveyed in this book are that every vote counts and that it is a privilege to vote. The book concludes with a glossary that defines all the words that appeared in bold type, a "Did You Know" section, and another entitled "Want to Know More?" that references books and web sites. There is also an index and a brief blurb about the author. 2005, Compass Point Books, Ages 5 to 8.
—Marilyn Courtot