Timeline: What happens next?

VOANews: US Election Map 2020

This a brief timeline about the events leading up to Inauguration Day.  Please note that other important activities have not been included such as run-off elections, the selection of a transition team (which may include future Cabinet Secretaries), and the delivery of the 2020 Census (which will determine congressional representation PLUS the next Electoral College map).  For more details, pleas see CNN: Electoral College: What Happens Next? and VOA Learning English: U.S. Elections.

November 3 – Election Day Voters voted, votes were counted.

November 4 – November 23: Votes are counted. 

December 23: Electoral votes must arrive in Washington.

January 3: New 117th Congress is sworn in.

January 6: Electoral votes counted. 

January 20: Inauguration Day.

President-elect Biden Makes Statement

 

VOANews: President-elect Biden Makes Statement 

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris address the nation from Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday, November 7.

How it felt to vote in 2020

 

Vox: How it felt to vote in 2020 

A record-breaking 160 million Americans voted in the 2020 presidential election, despite the Covid-19 pandemic’s continued spread across the country.

Voters across the country talked to Vox about their motivations to vote in this high-stakes election despite the challenges: waits in hours-long lines, navigating misinformation on social media, safety at the polls and their decisions whether to mail in or drop off their ballots.

For more information about the election, including up-to-date results, analysis, and news, check out Vox’s hub for election-related content: https://www.vox.com/2020

How the US counts votes

 

Vox: How the US counts votes

Follow the results of the 2020 presidential election at: http://www.vox.com/2020 In a normal presidential election year, many Americans go from casting our vote before work in the morning to turning off the TV before bed, secure in our knowledge of who will lead the country for the next four years. But in 2020, there’s a better-than-average chance that won’t happen. Even before the coronavirus struck, more Americans each election were either voting early or voting my mail. But in 2020, these numbers are expected to skyrocket, and that means states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which don’t start counting mail-in ballots until election day, probably won’t have results for several days. This year, voters are facing a pandemic, a deliberately underfunded postal service, and the closure of polling locations in battleground states like Georgia, Ohio, Arizona, and Texas. In this video, we take a comprehensive deep dive into how states count votes. Each of the 3,141 counties in the US has its own rules, but there are some basic steps that are mostly the same across the country. Whether you’re voting in person early, on election day, by mail, or dropping off your ballot, we break down some of the differences and similarities in how and when states collect, verify, process, and count ballots. Once you understand how votes are counted, it’s clear just how important each vote really is. Further reading: Voting by mail and absentee voting (MIT Election Data and Science Lab) post Democracy Diverted: Polling Place Closures and the Right to Vote (The Leadership Conference Education Fund) pdf Election night marks the end of one phase of campaign 2020 – and the start of another (Pew) post How Quickly Will Your Absentee Vote Be Counted? A State-by-State Timeline (New York Times) post The Voting Process: From the Ballot Box to the Presidency (NBC News) section How Mail-in Voting Works In Ohio: A Step-By-Step Guide (WVU) article Subscribe to VOX channel! Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.

Citizenship Fall Class 24

 

VOA Learning English: How America Elects: General Election Day

Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Join Zoom Meeting

ID: 597 738 4168

Password: 226317

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

https://bit.ly/maecit

N-400 plus Integration 

• Oath of Allegiance pdf

Civics

• Rights and Responsibilities - Intermediate Level Lesson Plan and Handouts
• USCIS: Oath of Allegiance - Constitution Week 2013 (video): The Oath of Allegiance recited by #newUSCitizens at Oath Ceremonies across America. Very inspirational!

Extra

• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes
• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes (video playlist)
• VOA News: 2020 USA Votes: Explainers (video playlist)
• VOA Learning English: U.S. Election 2020 and American Presidents
• VOA Learning English: American Presidents

Race for the White House is Too Close to Call

 

VOANews: Race for the White House is Too Close to Call 

Battleground States Needed For Victory Remain Undecided #election2020

Citizenship Fall Class 23

Election ABCs--Updated for 2020! google slides / video

US Citizenship Podcast

• Electoral College Citizenship Quizzes
• Part 1: U.S. Civics mp3 / pdf
• Part 2: U.S. History mp3 / pdf
• Voting pptx
• Voting Video
• Picture Vocabulary Voting Quiz 
• Voting Video Quiz
• A Quick Interview Based on the N-400r plus 10qs about Voting and Elections pdf and mp3
• Interview E-1 (N-400 Part 12 focus on voting and paying taxes)
• More Resources about Voting and the 2020 Election for Adult Edu, ESL, and Citizenship Students post
• Check back for updates!

USCIS

• Rights and Responsibilities - Intermediate Level Lesson Plan and Handouts
• Your Government and You - Beginning Level Lesson Plan and Handouts
• si.edu: Preparing for the Oath: Voting videos 

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2020 (and 2021)

 Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2021

• listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/2021-11-01.mp3
• read: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/citz-day-of-the-dead-2021.pdf
• watch: https://youtu.be/gop4cR_DlAQ

We honor the following list of Americans who passed before us in 2021:

• Nov 23, 2020: Bruce Boynton, African-American civil rights activist
• Dec 6, 2020: Paul Spyros Sarbanes, US Congressman
• Dec 10, 2020: Juan Pérez-Giménez, U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico judge
• Feb 6, 2021: George Shultz, three-time Cabinet Secretary
• Apr 4, 2021: LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, Native American activist
• Apr 19, 2021: Walter Mondale, Vice-President
• Aug 5, 2021 Richard Trumka, labor union leader
• Oct 16, 2021: Colin Powell, Secretary of States

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2020

• listen: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/uscitizenpod/2020-11-02.mp3
• read: http://bit.ly/2020-dotd
• watch: https://youtu.be/enB6QoyU16c 

We honor the following list of Americans who passed before us in 2020:

• Jan 24 Pete Stark, member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1973–2013).
• Feb 23 Ahmaud Arbery, jogger, shot.
• Feb 24 Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician,
• Mar 2 Charles Trimble, Native American advocate.
• Mar 13 Barbara Harris, American Episcopal prelate.
• Mar 13 Breonna Taylor, African-American woman and EMT.
• Apr 9 Phyllis Lyon, American gay rights activist.
• Apr 16 Jane Dee Hull, Governor of Arizona (1997–2003).
• May 6 Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejía, Salvadoran-born American immigrant, COVID-19.
• May 25 George Floyd, American police detainee.
• July 17 John Lewis and C. T. Vivian, American civil rights leaders
• Sept 18 Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2019  listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2018 listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2017 listen / read / watch

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2016 listen / read

A Citizenship Quiz for All Saints Day Podcast 2015 listen / read

Citizenship Quiz for Day of the Dead Podcast 2015 listen / read

Also see:

Dead Honored in Various Ways watch

Citizenship Resources for Halloween post

Citizenship Resources for Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month!

updated 11/13/2021

VOANews: Native Americans Seek to Raise Awareness of their History

In 1990 then-President George H.W. Bush approved a resolution declaring November "National American Indian Heritage Month," and it's been observed ever since. VOA's Alex Yanevskyy visited the Museum of Natural History in Utah on a day when Native American heritage was being celebrated.

Native American Leaders who passed during 2021

• 11/30/2020 Eddie Benton-Banai, 89, Ojibwe-Anishinabe, civil rights activist (American Indian Movement).
• 12/20/2020 Hank Adams, 77, Assiniboine-Sioux, civil rights activist.
• 01/02/2021 Carrie Dann, 88, Western Shoshone, indigenous rights activist and spiritual leader.
• 02/02/2021 Albert Hale, 70, Navajo, politician, President of the Navajo Nation (1995–1998), member of the Arizona House of Representatives (2011–2017) and Senate (2004–2011), COVID-19.
• 04/10/2021 LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, 64, Dakota-Lakota, historian and Native American rights activist (Dakota Access Pipeline protests)
• 08/06/2021 Rita Pitka Blumenstein, 84–85, Yup'ik traditional healer.
• 09/02/2021 Ruth Bradley Holmes, 96, American polyglot, Cherokee linguist, and educator.
• 10/13/2021 Earl Old Person, 92, Blackfeet-Amskapi’Piikáni, chief and Montana politician.

NEW for 2021:

• Happy National Native American Heritage Month! (plus POP Quiz)
• USPS Stamp Celebrates Native American Culture
• Navajo Nation TV and Film: 2021 | Veterans Day Tribute

More Resources:

• American English at State: Celebrate!
• Native American PowWows
• ELCivics.com 
• American Indian Tribes
• ESL Library
• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (High Int)
• Trail of Tears (High Int-Adv)
• Wa-Tho-Huk (Beg-Low Int)
• LearningChocolate.com 
• U.S. Citizenship 5: American Indian Tribes 
• Planet Project
• The Navajo Nation | The Story of America's Largest Tribe video
• Searching for the Navajo language in Monument Valley video
• NY Times:
• The Thanksgiving Myth Gets a Deeper Look This Year article
• Now This: 
• Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 DNC (features many Native Americans and Native Pacific Islanders--very moving--I cried!)
• SI.edu
• National Museum of the Native American, Washington DC
• Smithsonian NMAI: The Invention of Thanksgiving 
• National Postal Museum: Indians at the Post Office: Native Themes in New Deal-Era Murals
• National Postal Museum: The American Indian in Postage Stamps: Profiles in Leadership, Accomplishment and Cultural Celebration
• NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov
• Preparing the Oath: 100:59, 100:87
• US Census
• Facts for Features: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: November 2020 pdf / post

US Citizenship Podcast

• Deborah Parker (Tulalip) and the Violence Against Women Act (2013) video
• Native American Tribes Puzzle pdf
• A Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (November)
• A Third Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (2018) video / mp3 / pdf 
• A Second Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (2017) video / mp3 / pdf
• 10 USCIS Civics questions focusing on Recent Native American History and Legislation (2016) mp3 / pdf

VOA News: Voice of America and VOA Learning English 

• These are recent stories and videos; search for more stories and videos.  
• After each story or video, try to ask and answer an appropriate USCIS Civics question.

1. #DearNonNatives: What Native Americans Want Non-Natives To Know
2. #NotInvisible: Why Are Native American Women Vanishing?
3. Advocates Seek Justice for Abused Native American Women
4. All About America Blog: Stunning Photos Capture Native Americans in Early 1900s
5. American Indian Charter School Wins Approval in Oklahoma
6. Are Federal Courts Harsher on Native American Offenders?
7. Art Thrives Among Hunters, Fishers in Northernmost Alaska
8. Bear Dance | VOA Connect
9. Becoming a Social Worker
10. Blackfeet Boxing Documentary Casts Light on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women 2020
11. Changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day Gains National Approval
12. Drums of Community Beats for Native-American Grads
13. Educators Try New Methods to Save American Indian Languages
14. English Words Borrowed From the Americas
15. For Native American Clergy Sex Abuse Survivors, Justice is Elusive
16. Goodbye Pocahontas: Photos Reveal Today’s True Native Americans
17. Google Honors First Native American Woman Engineer
18. Lakota Daughters (2020)
19. Lawmakers Propose New Ways to Help Native American Women
20. Lost Birds: Displaced, Adopted Native Americans Look to Find Their Way Home
21. Mapping the Missing: Cartographer Plots Disappeared Native Women
22. Many Native Americans, Citing History, Angry Over Trump Immigration Policy
23. Massachusetts Tribe Reclaims Language Not Spoken for Six Generations
24. Mattaponi Tribe's Pow Wow a Time of Celebration & Giving Thanks
25. Native American Journalists Debate Future of Media in Indian Country
26. Native American Pow Wows Celebrate Patriotism, Unity
27. Native American Rodeo: More Than Sport, It’s ‘A Way Out’
28. Native American Tribe Battles to Keep Land
29. Native American Two-Spirits Look to Reclaim Lost Heritage
30. Native Americans Call for Rethinking of Bering Strait Theory
31. Native Americans No Closer to Learning Fates of Boarding School Ancestors
32. Native Americans Played Pivotal Role in the First Thanksgiving 
33. Native Americans Say Law That Protects Children at Risk
34. Native Americans Seek to Raise Awareness of their History
35. Native Americans Work to Break Down Barriers to Voting
36. Navajo Nation Marks 150th Anniversary of Bosque Redondo Treaty
37. NEH Funds Native American Cultural Projects
38. New Mexico Democrat Poised to Become First Native American Congresswoman
39. New Exhibit Examines Native American Imagery in US Culture
40. Rare Horse Breed Revived for Choctaw Nation
41. Record Number of Native American Women to Run in 2018 Midterm Polls
42. Report: US News Media Part of the Problem in Misunderstanding Native Americans
43. Rise in Hate Crimes Alarms Native American Communities
44. Separating Myth and Fact About Pocahontas
45. Squanto: From Slave to Diplomat
46. The REDress Project Highlights Missing, Murdered Native American Women
47. This is America: Visiting Sacred Grounds in National Park Monuments
48. Traditional Samoan Tattoo Ritual
49. US Supreme Court Deems Half of Oklahoma a Native American Reservation (2020)
50. US Rules Descendants of Cherokees' Former Slaves Have Full Tribal Rights
51. Utah Monument Fight Reflects National Debate
52. Water, Stone and History in Navajo Land
53. Whales Revered as Center of Alaska Inupiat Life
54. Why Aren't More Native Americans Members of the US Congress?
55. VOA News Videos About Native American Culture and News
    

Citizenship Resources for Halloween

Many children like to dress up as superheroes for Halloween. Their favorite, Superman, was a refugee who made America his home. Superman, like many immigrants, "fights for truth, justice and the American Way!" 
What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen? (53)

Citizenship Quiz for All Saints and Day of the Dead 2020 blogpost

Trick or Treat! A Halloween Citizenship Interview 2019

watch: https://youtu.be/7_5ofzC8oEE

A Citizenship Quiz for Halloween 
listen: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/citz-halloween-quiz.mp3
read: http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/citz-halloween.pdf


More Resources:

5 Ghosts of Presidents Haunting White House: Lincoln's Ghost and 4 more!
https://youtu.be/Pr11DyYT1s8 


24 children receive U.S. citizenship at Halloween-themed ceremony (2019)
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/immigration/story/2019-10-24/24-children-receive-us-citizenship-at-halloween-themed-ceremony

Day of the Dead Honors Loved Ones Who Died, and Celebrates the Living
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/a-23-2007-10-25-voa1-83135282/128016.html

Dead Honored in Various Ways
https://youtu.be/f3cRohj2vEA

Everyday conversations: What’s your Halloween costume?
https://share.america.gov/everyday-conversations-halloween-costumes/

Halloween
https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/halloween.pdf

I'm a US citizen! + Lit AF halloween party*🎃| tani (2019)
https://youtu.be/mmzdAQrfb0k

Kids Get Citizenship Certificate Dressed in Halloween Costumes
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/Kids-Get-Citizenship-Certificate-Dressed-in-Halloween-Costumes-563814671.html

Los Angeles Marks American Tradition with 'Pumpkin Nights'
https://youtu.be/q43q0k8fD0I

Special Halloween-themed citizenship ceremony takes place in Chicago
http://www.fox32chicago.com/news/local/special-halloween-themed-citizenship-ceremony-takes-place-in-chicago

Washington Residents Celebrate Halloween With Healthy Run Through Cemetery
https://youtu.be/sliDJMhKbdQ

Undecided Voters Play Role in US Elections

VOANews: Explainer Undecided Voters Play Role in US Elections 

Some of the most important people in U.S. politics don't know how they are going to vote when Election Day comes. They are undecided voters. VOA explains how in many elections, they determine the winner.

Citizenship Fall Class 22

uscitizenpod: Voting Video

Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

https://bit.ly/maecit

Warm-up

• read and write pdf
• si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
• Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf

N-400

• Interview E-1 (N-400 Part 12 focus on voting and paying taxes)

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The 1900s 
• USCIS 100:84-85 English transcript / Spanish transcript
• USCIS 100:86 English transcript / Spanish transcript
• USCIS
• Equality and Freedom beginning / intermediate

Integration

• Voting Video Quiz

Extra Credit:

• American Women who Fought for the Right to Vote mp3 and pdf
• Third Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Native American Heritage Month--Focus: Midterm Elections 2018 pdf mp3 video

News Words: Swing States

 

VOA Learning English: News Words: Swing States

Citizenship Fall Class 21

uscitizenpod: Mix and Match U S Citizenship Interview Level D Practice 5

Fall Citizenship Zoom Class is Tue and Thu 7:00-8:30 pm PDT

For one-on-one interviews 6:00-7:00--email Teacher Jennifer jgagliar@musd.org

Direct Link to the Fall Citizenship Zoom Class 

https://bit.ly/maecit

Warm-up

• read and write pdf
• si.edu: Preparing for the Oath quiz
• Cambridge Ventures Arcade: Citizenship Preparing for the N-400 pdf

N-400

• Level D
• Powerpoint
• Part 01 to Part 11  picture vocabulary
• Part 12 picture vocabulary
• Interview D-5
• Entrevista D-5

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The 1900s 
• USCIS 100:78-79 English transcript / Spanish transcript
• USCIS 100:80-81 English transcript / Spanish transcript
• USCIS 100:82-83 English transcript / Spanish transcript
• USCIS
• History since the 1900s beginning / intermediate

Integration

• Citizenship Interview Quiz with Vu Xuân Tran pdf 

Extra Credit:

• uscitizenpod: US Citizenship Bootcamp Episode 3 of 5: She Built Ships in World War II (w/photos and CC)

I voted early at the Hollywood Bowl!

 

uscitizenpod: I voted early at the Hollywood Bowl! 

Dr. Patricia Hernández when to an exciting place to cast her vote early: the Hollywood Bowl!

uscitizenpod: ¡Voté en el Hollywood Bowl!  video

La Dra. Patricia Hernández fue a un lugar emocionante para emitir su voto temprano: ¡el Hollywood Bowl!

To join Dr. Patricia Hernandez's class

Contact:

Adult Education Center (AEC)

2510 Lincoln Boulevard - Room 203

Santa Monica, California 90405

Telephone: 310-664-6222 Fax: 310-664-6220

Online Registration

https://smmusd.asapconnected.com/

What it’s like becoming American citizens in the time of coronavirus

KCRA: What it’s like becoming American citizens in the time of coronavirus 

As the state continues to reopen, naturalization ceremonies have resumed.

Una madre con un recién nacido informa sobre su entrevista de ciudadanía

uscitizenpod: Una madre con un recién nacido informa sobre su entrevista de ciudadanía

La Dra. Hernández describe cómo su estudiante encontró tiempo para estudiar y aprobar su entrevista de ciudadanía. Revisión súper rápida de algunos vocabulario de la Parte 12 y muchos consejos para entrevistas. Para unirse a la clase de la Dra. Patricia Hernandez Contacto: Centro de educación para adultos (AEC) 2510 Lincoln Boulevard - Habitación 203 Santa Mónica, California 90405 Teléfono: 310-664-6222 Fax: 310-664-6220 Registro en línea https://smmusd.asapconnected.com/ Ejemplos de hojas de trabajo del Dr. Hernández: What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 4 video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-04 worksheet: https://bit.ly/ez-n400-part12 What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 6 video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06 worksheet: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06-x U.S. Citizenship Prep Activities 1: Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo video: https://youtu.be/qOU4BGdOQ-8 A mother with a newborn reports back about her Citizenship Interview https://youtu.be/b3bD3QxSIlE

A mother with a newborn reports back about her Citizenship Interview

 

uscitizenpod: A mother with a newborn reports back about her Citizenship Interview

Dr. Hernandez describes how her student found time to study for and pass her Citizenship interview. Super quick review of some Part 12 Vocabulary plus many interview tips!

Examples of Dr. Hernandez's worksheets:

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 4

video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-04

worksheet: https://bit.ly/ez-n400-part12

What's happening with the USCIS Openings? Week 6

video: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06

worksheet: https://bit.ly/uscis-week-06-x

U.S. Citizenship Prep Activities 1: Part 12 Vocabulary Bingo

video: https://youtu.be/qOU4BGdOQ-8

To join Dr. Patricia Hernandez's class

Contact: Adult Education Center (AEC)

Santa Monica, California 90405

2510 Lincoln Boulevard - Room 203

https://smmusd.asapconnected.com/

Telephone: 310-664-6222 Fax: 310-664-6220

Online Registration

Citizenship Fall Class 20

VOA Learning English: America's Presidents - Abraham Lincoln

N-400

• Level D
• Powerpoint
• Part 01 to Part 11  picture vocabulary
• Part 12 picture vocabulary
• Interview D-4
• Entrevista D-4

Civics

• si.edu: Preparing the Oath: The 1800s 
• English transcript
• Spanish transcript
• USCIS: Lesson Plans
• Abraham Lincoln (beginning)
• Civil War (beginning)
• US Wars 1800s (beginning)

Integration

• Citizenship Interview Quiz with Angelica Mendoza pdf mp3 video

Extra Credit:

From VOA Learning English: America's Presidents

• 
  

  

  JUNE 18, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr (Part Three)

• 
  

  

  JUNE 14, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr (Part Three)

• 
  

  

  JUNE 11, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr (Part Two)

• 
  

  

  JUNE 09, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr (Part Two)

• 
  

  

  JUNE 04, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr

• 
  

  

  JUNE 02, 2017
  

  Abraham Lincoln: Martyr

•