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[Dino and Coop singing]

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Anyone who has a brother or sister knows that sometimes, just because it seems like you're [Girl playing an electric guitar]

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given a choice doesn't mean you really have a choice at all. [Brother chucks a paper airplane at her head]

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Case in point, no matter how many times your brother asks if you want him to stop annoying

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you, he's just gonna keep doing it no matter what your answer is. [Girl looks annoyed]

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Thankfully, when it comes to elections in the United States, you really do have a choice.

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That's because Elections in the United States are democratic systems. [A box on a voting card is ticked]

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But what does that mean?

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Well, for starters, it means that they're both free and honest – voters can cast their [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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votes privately and get to actually have a choice of candidates.

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And that's pretty important.

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If your mom asked if you wanted tuna casserole, tuna casserole, or tuna casserole for dinner, [Three dishes of tuna casserole]

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well, that's really not much of a decision at all, is it?

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And if she really wants us to eat the leftover tuna casserole, just come out at say it already, [The tuna casserole is given to the dog]

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Mom.

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Voting booths are usually divided up with curtains or walls in order to give the voter

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privacy.

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This is done so that voters can freely choose whoever they want without being worried

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that other will judge them for it. [Man holding up his card and smiling]

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It also doubles as a great place to quickly check if your fly is low without everyone [Jeans with an unzipped fly]

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totally laughing at you.

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When people all over the country vote in various elections, they are participating in a democratic

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system because the people they elect are given the power to make decisions on behalf of everyone

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else.

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In the case of the presidency, citizens vote for electors that in turn select the next [People appearing on a state map]

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president.

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The entire system is built to allow people in a real way to have their voices heard, which [Map of the US showing democratic and republican states]

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is why it works so well.

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In a class election, votes are counted as a pure democracy – meaning that each and [Teacher pointing at the blackboard]

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every vote is counted and weighted equally, and the candidate with the majority wins.

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Democracy is one the most important aspects of the United States government, because it

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ensures that the power is always in the hands of the people. ['We the people' is highlighted on the constitution]

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That's why you'd be silly to not to be involved when given the opportunity – it would be

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like having a giant magical sledgehammer and not using it to spectacularly smash a watermelon [Girl smashes the watermelon with her sledgehammer]

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into a million pieces.

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And then a pumpkin!

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And then a kitchen tabl—

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Wait, no, not that. [No sign appears on the table]

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Shmoop does not endorse destroying your furniture…

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unless your parents vote yes on it first. [Parents put their thumbs up]

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Boom.

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Democracy. [The girl smiles]

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