Indiana Social Studies USG.5.6
The Standard
Explain how and why citizens in the United States participate in public elections as voters and supporters of candidates for public office.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Students understand the nature of citizenship, politics, and governments, understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens and how these are part of local, state, and national government. Students examine how the United States Constitution protects rights and provides the structure and functions of various levels of government. Students examine how the United States interacts with other nations as well as the government's role in world affairs will be examined.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain how eligible citizens register and vote in public elections. They describe how people support candidates by volunteering or sharing campaign information, and why they want a say in who represents them.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain how an eligible voter finds election rules and casts a ballot. They can describe how a volunteer might knock on doors for a candidate and connect both actions to a goal, such as changing local bus service.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think campaigning and voting are the same action, or that someone must be old enough to vote to volunteer. They may think only presidential elections affect their lives, overlooking city council and school board races.
How to Assess It
- A city council candidate promises later bus service. On an exit ticket, ask students how an eligible resident could vote, how a student could support the candidate, and why each action might matter.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students two fictional city council flyers and paper ballots; have them mark a choice, tally votes, and explain their choice.
Ask students to write: Why might someone campaign for a candidate even if they cannot vote?
Have pairs sort cards labeled register, cast a ballot, knock on doors, and share flyers into voting or candidate support.
Check a county election website for voting details and two local candidates' websites for volunteer options, then compare both ways to participate.
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Printable USG.5.6 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 8.C.6
Explain ways that citizens can participate in the election process (e.g., political parties, campaigns, and elections) at the federal, state, and local levels.
- 4.C.5
Give examples of how citizens can participate in their state government and explain the right and responsibility of voting.
- IS.2.4
Give examples of how citizens can participate in their state government and explain their rights and responsibilities, including civic engagement and voting.
- 3.C.5
Explain the role citizens have in making decisions and rules within the community, state, and nation, such as participating in local and regional activities, vo...
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