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Home > Elections and Voting > Candidate Evaluation
Lesson Plan
Elections and Voting

Candidate Evaluation

6-8
9-12
One class period
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Learning Objectives

  • Establish, explain and apply criteria useful in selecting public officials.
  • Evaluate political candidates based on their qualifications, experience, speeches and advertisements.
  • Examine candidates’ promises and how they align with the offices they seek and their voting records.
  • Evaluate information and arguments from various sources.
  • Identify stands taken by candidates on issues.
In this lesson, students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials.
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Overview

In this lesson, students evaluate hypothetical candidates by establishing and applying their own criteria for selecting public officials. Through a variety of activities, students assess political candidates based on their qualifications, experience, campaign speeches and campaign materials. Students track campaign promises, explore voting records and evaluate the legitimacy of information resources. The role of the media, fundraising and opinion polls in the electoral process is also discussed.

Check out our Candidate Report Card activity where students apply the skills they learn in this lesson to current political races. 

Love this lesson? Explore all of our free election curriculum and teaching resources at our Election Headquarters. 

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