Chapter 6VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR

1- Voting rights came in the 1800’s- Each state

at a time eliminated property ownership and

tax payment qualifications. Mid

century almost all white adult males could vote. 2- Following the Civil

War. 15 th Amendment- protect any citizen from being denied the right

to vote. 3- 19 th Amendment-

Women’s Suffrage

4- 1960’s- Voting Rights Act 1965- racial equality.

23rd/24th amendments-

District of Columbia voters were added, and eliminated the

poll tax.5- Adoption of the

26th Amendment. Those who are 18

can vote.

THE HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS

Place five restrictions on how the States use the

voting power. 1- Each of the States allows the same voters to vote in all elections within

the State. 2- No state can deprive a

person the right to vote based on their color, and

or race. 3- No state can deprive a

person the right to vote based on their sex.

4- No state can require payment of any tax as a condition for taking part

in the election. 5- No state can deprive a

person who is at or at least 18 years of age.

THE POWER TO SET VOTING QUALIFICATIONS

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS

CitizenshipAliens- Foreign born residents who are not citizens are denied the right to vote.

ResidenceMust be a legal resident of that state.

Attach no time qualification.

Age26th Amendment

“ The right of the citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.”

UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENTS

Registration Must be registered to vote.

Prevent FraudLiteracy

No Suffrage qualifications based on a person’s ability to read or write.

Tax Payment 24th Amendment outlawed a poll tax.

Persons Denied the Votes People in mental institutions.

Convicted on serious crimes.

Dishonorably discharged from the army.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

SUFFRAGE AND CIVIL RIGHTS

The effort to extend the franchise to African Americans began with the 15 th

Amendment.It declares that the right to vote cannot

be denied to any citizen of the United States because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Ensured that all African Americans had the right to vote!

THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT

Civil Rights Act 1957- Set up the United States Civil Rights

Commission. Reports any claims of voter discrimination.

Civil Rights Act 1960- Federal court officers were given the

power to help qualify persons to register and vote in federal

elections.

EARLY CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION

This act is much broader and more effective.

This outlaws discrimination in several areas, especially in job

related matters. This section forbids the

use of any voter registration or literacy

requirements in an unfair or discriminatory

manner.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964

This act made the 15 t h Amendment a truly effective part of the Constitution.

This law suspended literacy tests, and have people oversee the conduct of elections in those areas. “ The Voting Rights Act was designed by Congress to banish the blight of racial discrimination in voting, which has infected the electoral process in parts of our country

for nearly a century…. Congress assumed the power to prescribe these remedies from Section 2 of the 15 th

Amendment, which authorizes the National Legislature to effectuate by appropriate measures the constitutional prohibition against racial discrimination in voting. We

hold that the sections of the Act which are properly before us are an appropriate means for carrying our

Congress constitutional responsibilities and are consonant with all other provisions of the Constitutions.”

THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965

VOTER BEHAVIOR

Why are those in America that can vote but don’t?

NONVOTERS

THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM

Cannot Voters Resident Aliens

Actual Nonvoters Didn’t think that their vote could make a difference. Some distrust politicians and politics.

Factors Affecting Turnout Bad weather Long ballots Long Lines

Comparing Voters and Nonvoters Those who vote- Higher levels of education Well integrated into the community. Nonvoters are likely to be younger.

WHY PEOPLE DO NOT VOTE

Studying Voting Behavior

Factors that Influence Voters

VOTERS AND VOTING BEHAVIOR

Income, Occupation

Education Gender, Age

Religious,, Ethnic Background

GeographyFamily and Other

Groups

SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS

Party Identificatio

nCandidates

and Issues

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS