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Course 228 · Life course 50

Prepare to Vote with Official Information

An unsubmitted election-readiness packet using fictional voters, official-source checks, registration questions, sample-ballot research and a timing plan. Use six supplied cases to build and check the project.

Before you start

Paper or a free text document is sufficient. All core case facts are supplied.

Understand U.S. Government and Checks See everything you’ll need

Free download · Original practice data · No external account required. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

An unsubmitted election-readiness packet using fictional voters, official-source checks, registration questions, sample-ballot research and a timing plan.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

  1. Get your materialsDownload practice filesSupplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.
  2. Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
  3. Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners aged 14+ building neutral, evidence-based explanations with supplied fictional cases; no civic eligibility is implied.

Prepare before lesson one
  • Paper or a free text document is sufficient. All core case facts are supplied.
  • Use the supplied fictional cases. No personal records, political preferences, registration or outside contact is required.
  • Suggested earlier course: Understand U.S. Government and Checks
Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

An unsubmitted election-readiness packet using fictional voters, official-source checks, registration questions, sample-ballot research and a timing plan.

Save a project record in My Proof
See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

  • Fictional eligibility questions.
  • Official-office verification card.
  • Clearly invented action/deadline matrix.
  • Neutral sample-ballot annotation.
  • Permitted-method logistics plan.
  • Final unresolved-check audit.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

  • Eligibility record distinguishes course access from voting rules.
  • Official-source card verifies publisher, destination and jurisdiction.
  • Timing and sample ballot apply the exact supplied action/selection rules.
  • Final method/audit preserves unresolved ID/access checks and unsubmitted status.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

01

Use the responsible office

Verify current jurisdiction-specific instructions.

02

Separate the gates

Eligibility, deadlines, method and access need their own evidence.

03

Keep it neutral

Study instructions without requiring political choices.

What do these words mean?
Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Jurisdiction
The place and responsible authority whose rules govern the question.
Registration
An official process whose status must be verified through the responsible office.
Received-by deadline
Condition requiring the office to receive the item by the stated time.
Sample ballot
A preview used to examine contest text and instructions.
Advocacy
Communication urging a political choice rather than neutrally stating a procedure.
Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

  1. 1
    Up next

    Determine which eligibility facts need checking

    List the facts that an official election authority must check for eligibility.

  2. 2
    8 min

    Find the responsible election office

    Choose an official route to the responsible election office and verify its identity.

  3. 3
    9 min

    Compare registration and voting deadlines

    Distinguish registration, ballot-request and ballot-return deadlines.

  4. 4
    8 min

    Read a neutral sample ballot

    Read ballot instructions and distinguish ballot text from arguments.

  5. 5
    9 min

    Plan a permitted voting method

    Build a voting-method plan only from supplied permitted methods and confirmed logistics.

  6. 6
    13 min

    Audit a voting plan and unresolved questions

    Audit a fictional election plan for independent unresolved conditions.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools
ZIP · practice files

Prepare to Vote with Official Information practice files

Supplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

USAGov: Who Can and Cannot Vote
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read citizenship/age/residency considerations and jurisdiction-specific exceptions; no real eligibility determination made.

Access: Official page content was retrieved with the web reader on 2026-10-01. Video playback, outside forms and personal services were not tested.

Reuse: Original fictional cases and assessments with linked factual references. Source exercises, photographs and diagrams are not copied.

USAGov: State and Local Election Offices
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read official state/territory routing and office role.

Access: Official page content was retrieved with the web reader on 2026-10-01. Video playback, outside forms and personal services were not tested.

Reuse: Original fictional cases and assessments with linked factual references. Source exercises, photographs and diagrams are not copied.

USAGov: Registration Deadlines
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read state variation and deadline verification; exercise dates are invented.

Access: Official page content was retrieved with the web reader on 2026-10-01. Video playback, outside forms and personal services were not tested.

Reuse: Original fictional cases and assessments with linked factual references. Source exercises, photographs and diagrams are not copied.

USAGov: Absentee and Mail Voting
Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Read differing request/return rules, receipt versus postmark and office verification.

Access: Official page content was retrieved with the web reader on 2026-10-01. Video playback, outside forms and personal services were not tested.

Reuse: Original fictional cases and assessments with linked factual references. Source exercises, photographs and diagrams are not copied.

Ready when you are

Start with the first useful move.

You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.

Start lesson one