Why do some towns vote for animal mayors?
Most dogs spend their days playing fetch or taking naps. But not Alfie. He has an important job. He’s the mayor of Eastsound, Washington!
Too Small for a Mayor
Mayors help run our cities and towns. They fix problems in our communities. They help keep schools and parks running smoothly. And they make sure people follow the rules.
Some towns in America are too small to need a mayor. A few of these towns, like Eastsound, choose an honorary animal mayor. Of course, these animal mayors don’t make any real decisions. So what’s the point of electing an animal as mayor?
Animal mayors aren’t always dogs. In Fair Haven, Vermont, a goat named Lincoln was once mayor!
Excited About Voting
Americans 18 and older vote for leaders in elections. Voting is one way people make their voices heard. It gives Americans a say in who will run their town, city, state, or country. But millions of Americans choose not to vote.
That’s where animal mayors come in. Animal elections make voting fun—and get people excited about voting in real elections. In Eastsound, even kids can join in the fun.
“It’s a great lesson for our kids,” says Stephanie Moss, who helps run the animal election in Eastsound. “It teaches them that every vote counts.”
The animal election also helps good causes. Each vote costs $1. This year, the money went to a local preschool. The election raised thousands of dollars!
Would you want to vote for an animal mayor in your town?
Fact Finder
1. WHAT is a mayor’s job?
2. WHY is voting important?
3. WHY do some towns hold animal elections?
Can't Miss Teaching Extras
Continue the election conversation by debating whether or not kids should vote in this issue’s debate, “Should You Be Allowed to Vote?”
Do your students like learning about American politics? Then dive into American history in “Washington’s Secret Attack,” and “Blood, Smoke, and Freedom.”
Meet another political pooch in “America’s Favorite Hero Dog,” a story about a World War I hero with four legs!
As you learned in this story, dogs are amazing animals! Learn more about cool dogs with even cooler jobs in “Dogs to the Rescue,” “Racing Through Danger,” and “Will a Dog Change My Life?”
