WA Top Two Primary

Washington’s Top Two Primary: how does it really work? How impactful is your vote in the Primary Election? Learn how much your vote really counts in by understanding Washington's unique Top Two Primary. Voting in the August Primary has never been more important. Learn how you can vote for the person, not just for the party. Only the TOP TWO vote getters in each race (regardless of party) will appear on the General Election ballot in November. 📚 Get easy to use WA State Civics Lesson Plans: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ 📚 Lesson Plan for the Top Two Primary: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1irN-7JFY709EWC05y7l0g1Zjd0x4-HyY2y8dgAvQqws/edit?usp=sharing 📣 Check out our other CIVICS CURRICULA for WA middle and high school teachers: https://www.teachwithtvw.org/lesson-plans/ ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Videos ======================================= 🎬 Civics 101 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDcy6Oz3plxQCqpfNUb2HGf&feature=shared 🎬 Legislative Navigator https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SD-p5BHx443GTtGBp_DKQVT&feature=shared 🎬 Learning Modules - The Branches of WA State Government: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SBe_62ViakFyBCw4qah7eR7&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SDnVbfKeRWogOX6zU5BWw6b&feature=shared https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCYOl5u2wu52tt3G7sEmNTG&feature=shared ======================================= Other Teach With TVW Civics Programs ======================================= 🙋Capitol Classroom - Bring the Legislative process into your classroom: https://teachwithtvw.org/civic-participation-in-the-classroom/ 🙋On The Issues - Youth bring the questions to WA state leadership: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL75F8E2rv4SCiQlpeW9JwnJepn87zNpDT&feature=shared 🙋TVW CONNECTS - WA students engage in live Q&A with political leaders and experts: https://teachwithtvw.org/tvw-connects-civic-engagement/ =========================== Subscribe and Follow Teach With TVW =========================== ➡YT: @teachwithtvw360 ➡Web: https://www.teachwithtvw.org ➡FB: @Teach with TVW ➡IG: @TeachWithTVW ➡X: @TeachWithTVW ➡LI: @TeachWithTVW QUESTION - Have a question about our lesson plans or online videos? Drop it in the comments! ⏰ Timecodes ⏰ 0:00 Introduction: Why is there a primary? 0:54 Top Two: Why vote? 1:37 The Blanket Primary 2:39 Political parties and the blanket primary 3:15 Blanket is unconstitutional 3:51 Montana Style Primary 4:33 Initiative 6:20 Benefits of Top Two 7:35 Negative Partisanship 9:00 Concerns of Top Two 9:48 Hypothetical Scenarios 12:15 Voters 12:58 Closing: Empowerment What this video is about: It has been almost 20 years since Washington State adopted the Top Two Primary. And, we are one of only four other states in the nation that conduct our primary elections in this manner. So, how did this primary system come to be, how does it work, and what does it mean for your vote in the August Primary Election? In this 13 minute video, learn how much your vote really counts, about the history of the primary, the political machinations behind the scenes, and how to use this information to make an informed decision. Got more questions about Elections? Teach with TVW is here to explain it all in our Elections Explained series. Teach with TVW is a free online resource provided by TVW for Washington state social studies teachers to engage their students in state government and help to inspire active citizens. #waleg #teachwithtvw #CapitolClassroom #CONNECTS #civics101 #legislativenavigator #ontheissues #electionsexplained #elections #voting #toptwoprimary #primaryelection #wademocrats #warepublicans #civiceducation #youth #civics Washington's Top Two Primary: Elections Explained
13:25

Washington State is one of the only states in the nation that has a Top Two Primary for all of its Statewide Elected positions, Congressional positions, and Legislative positions. Held in the August preceding a November election, the top two winners of the primary regardless of political party move on to the general election. Washington State has conducted this type of primary for almost 20 years. 

Essential Questions:

  • Why did Washington change to the Top Two Primary?
  • To what extent does Washington’s Primary System represent the views of its voters?
  • How does the Top Two Primary work? 

Objectives:

  1. Understand why Washington adopted the Top Two Primary
  2. Understand how the Top Two Primary works
  3. Understand how political parties are involved in the primary system
Creative Commons Usage Rights

Except where otherwise noted, this resource from Teach with TVW is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. All logos, trademarks, and video are property of their respective owners. Sections used under fair use doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 107) are marked.

This resource may contain links to websites operated by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply any endorsement or monitoring by TVW.

Education Standards
  1. Middle School
    1. C2.6-8. 4 Use knowledge of the function of government to analyze and address a political issue.
    2. C4.6-8.3 Employ strategies for civic involvement that address a state or local issue.
  2. High School
    1. C2.11-12.1 Analyze citizens’ and institutions’ effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national and/or international level.
    2. C4.11-12.2 Analyze and evaluate ways of influencing local, state, and national governments and international organizations to establish or preserve individual rights and/or promote the common good.

Curriculum Notes:

This curriculum unit comes with a customizable GoogleSlide Deck with videos and discussion questions. Student notebooks are also available. 

*Note: to edit Google Docs or Google Slide Deck, make a copy, rename, and edit from there. 

Teacher Resources

Series