Voting in democratic elections is an essential way for individuals to participate in shaping the future of their society.
Writing about voting in democratic elections requires you to synthesise information from multiple sources and articulate a personal reflection, a key skill for earning a top grade in the English exam. This guide deconstructs a model answer to show you precisely how to integrate sources, structure your argument, and develop a nuanced personal response that impresses the examiner.
📋 Exam Question
Member of US Congress John Lewis (1940–2020) said that "[t]he right to vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society".
Read the material below. Using all the provided material, write a personal response where you reflect on the importance of voting in democratic elections.
Recommended length for task 2 is approximately 175–300 words.
Text A
Young voters’ diversity across race, gender, class, sexuality, and other intersections of identity leads them to speak to a wide-ranging, representative set of issues. Their multifaceted perspectives also allow them to bring fresh approaches to topics like the economy, gun reform, and abortion justice. Mobilizing them to vote empowers them to use these fresh approaches to introduce innovative solutions into our democracy.
Excerpt, adapted for this exam by Udir.
Text B
- Youth and the 2024 [US Presidential] Election
Here are some main findings at a glance from a November 2023 US poll of youth (ages 18–34):
57% of youth, ages 18–34, say they’re “extremely likely” to vote in 2024, and another 15% say they’re “fairly likely” to cast a ballot in the election.
Among youth who are extremely likely to vote: 51% back the Democratic candidate, 30% the Republican.
Young people’s top issues are inflation / cost of living, jobs that pay a living wage, gun violence, and climate change.
Youth who selected climate as a top issue were 20 % more likely than youth who did not choose climate to say they’ll vote in 2024, and 37 % more likely to prefer a Democrat for President.
Excerpt, adapted for this exam by Udir.
References:
Lewis, J. (2011, 19 July) Voting Rights. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. https://civilrights.org/value/voting-rights/
Text A: Blass, N. (2024, 13 February). Why we need Young Voters. https://www.lwv.org/blog/why-we-need-young-voters
Text B: de Guzman, P. & Medina, A. (2023, 29 November). Youth and the 2024 Election: Likely to Vote and Ready to Drive Action on Key Political Issues. https://circle.tufts.edu/2024-election-youth-poll
✏️ Model Answer
Voting in democratic elections is an essential way for individuals to participate in shaping the future of their society. As John Lewis stated, the right to vote is a powerful nonviolent tool for change. This is especially true for young voters, whose diverse perspectives on issues like the economy, gun reform, and climate change bring fresh, innovative solutions into the democratic process. Text A emphasizes that the youth of today are more than just voters—they are agents of change, capable of addressing complex issues in ways that can inspire progress. …