voting rights and behavior

VOTING RIGHTS AND BEHAVIOR

Universal Suffrage and How Americans Vote

Universal Suffrage• Everyone in the United States who is at least 18 years old

has the right to vote• Applies to all political elections.

2012 Election Demographics• Women – 55% Democrat, 44% Republican• Men – 45% Democrat, 52% Republican

• Ages 18-29 – 60% Democrat, 37% Republican• Ages 65 and over – 44% Democrat, 56% Republican

Demographics Cont.• Education

• Some HS – 64% Democrat, 35% Republican• HS Graduate – 51% Democrat, 48% Republican• Some College – 49% Democrat, 48% Republican• College Graduate – 47% Democrat, 51% Republican• Post Graduate Degrees – 55% Democrat, 42%

Republican

Demographics Continued• Race/Ethnicity

• Caucasian – 39% Democrat, 59% Republican• African American – 93% Democrat, 6% Republican• Hispanic – 71% Democrat, 27% Republican• Asian – 73% Democrat, 26% Republican

Amendments• 12 (1804) – Officially set up the Electoral College

• 15 (1870) – All men over the age of 21 now available to vote regardless of race

• 17 (1913) – Direct election of senators

Amendments Cont.• 19 (1920) – Gave women the right to vote

• 24 (1964) – Eliminated the poll tax

• 26 (1971) – Changed voting age from 21 to 18