Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Elections” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Elections
1. What is an election?
2. Why do we have elections?
3. Can you name different types of elections?
4. How often do elections happen in your country?
5. Who can vote in elections in your country?

II. The Importance of Voting
6. Why is voting important?
7. Do you think everyone should vote? Why or why not?
8. What might happen if people don’t vote?
9. Can voting change the future of a country?
10. How does voting affect democracy?

III. Election Process
11. How do people vote in your country?
12. What is a ballot?
13. Can you explain what a polling station is?
14. What happens if you can’t go to your polling station on election day?
15. How are votes counted?

IV. Candidates and Campaigns
16. What is a candidate in an election?
17. How do candidates let people know about their ideas?
18. What is a political campaign?
19. Do you think campaign advertisements are effective?
20. How can you find out more about the candidates?

V. The Role of Media in Elections
21. How does the media influence elections?
22. Should there be rules about what the media can say during an election?
23. Can social media impact election results?
24. How can voters find reliable information?
25. Do you think all news sources are trustworthy?

VI. Voting Systems
26. What is a majority vote?
27. Can you explain what proportional representation means?
28. What are the advantages of a direct democracy?
29. How does a representative democracy work?
30. Why might a country choose one voting system over another?

VII. International Elections
31. Can you name a country with a very different election process from yours?
32. How do elections in other countries affect the world?
33. Why do some countries have observers at their elections?
34. What role does the United Nations play in elections?
35. How can elections lead to changes in international relations?

VIII. Challenges in Elections
36. What are some challenges people might face when trying to vote?
37. How can elections be unfair?
38. What is voter suppression?
39. Can technology solve problems in the election process?
40. How can a country ensure its elections are free and fair?

IX. The Impact of Elections
41. How can an election result change a country?
42. What happens if the election result is very close?
43. Can elections lead to protests or conflicts?
44. How do election results affect international relationships?
45. What is the role of the president or prime minister after an election?

X. Youth and Elections
46. Should young people be interested in elections? Why or why not?
47. At what age do you think people should start voting?
48. How can young people get involved in elections?
49. Do you think schools should teach students about voting and elections?
50. How can elections be made more interesting for young people?

XI. Future of Elections
51. How might elections change in the future?
52. Do you think online voting will become common? Why or why not?
53. How can we make sure future elections are fair?
54. What role will technology play in future elections?
55. Can you imagine a world without elections?

XII. Personal Perspectives on Elections
56. Have you ever voted in an election? If so, how was the experience?
57. What is the most important issue for you in an election?
58. Would you ever consider running for office? Why or why not?
59. How do you decide which candidate to vote for?
60. What changes would you like to see in your country’s election process?

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