CH. 6: Voter Behavior!

Voting Qualification:

Only states can set voting qualifications. Only states can set voting qualifications. 1) Those who can vote, can also vote for 1) Those who can vote, can also vote for Senators and Reps. Senators and Reps. 2) No state can deny a qualified person the 2) No state can deny a qualified person the right to vote.right to vote.3) Cannot be denied to vote based on 3) Cannot be denied to vote based on GENDER.GENDER.4) No state can require you to pay to vote.4) No state can require you to pay to vote.5) State can not deny those 18 year or older. 5) State can not deny those 18 year or older.

6.1 The Right to Vote

Democracy depends on YOU…..so go out & Democracy depends on YOU…..so go out & VOTE!!VOTE!!

Framers left powers to states to set Framers left powers to states to set qualifications. qualifications. – Suffrage= The right to voteSuffrage= The right to vote– Franchise= another term with the same meaningFranchise= another term with the same meaning

The 1The 1stst restriction to vote was for white male restriction to vote was for white male property owners.property owners.

Electorate- potential voting population.Electorate- potential voting population.

Restrictions were based on:Restrictions were based on:– Religious Belief, Property Ownership, tax payment, race, Religious Belief, Property Ownership, tax payment, race,

& sex.& sex.– Fed. Gov has assumed much of states’ powers. Fed. Gov has assumed much of states’ powers.

5 Stages of Suffrage:5 Stages of Suffrage:– 1) Elimination of property ownership, religious beliefs, & 1) Elimination of property ownership, religious beliefs, &

tax payment restrictions. tax payment restrictions. – 2) 152) 15thth amendment protected citizens from denial based amendment protected citizens from denial based

on race and color.on race and color.– 3) 193) 19thth amendment protected citizens from denial based amendment protected citizens from denial based

on sex. on sex. – 4) Voting Rights Act (1965)= racial equality4) Voting Rights Act (1965)= racial equality

• 2323rdrd Amendment- voting DC Amendment- voting DC• 2424thth Amendment- eliminated poll tax. Amendment- eliminated poll tax.

5) 18 & Over can vote!

Power to Set Qualifications– 1) If you can vote in a state, you vote for members of

congress. – 2) No state can deprive anyone from the right to vote!

(15th Amendment)– 3) No state can deprive anyone from the right to vote

based on sex (19th Amend)– 4) No state can require payment to vote. – 5) No state can deprive anyone at least 18 years old or

older!

6.2 Voter QualificationsUniversal RequirementsUniversal Requirements– 1) Citizenship1) Citizenship

• Must be a US citizen to vote.Must be a US citizen to vote.• Constitution does not state this requirement.Constitution does not state this requirement.

– 2) Residence2) Residence• Must be a legal resident of state to voteMust be a legal resident of state to vote• Why? To keep outsiders from influencing outcome & allow new Why? To keep outsiders from influencing outcome & allow new

citizens to become familiar w/ candidates.citizens to become familiar w/ candidates.• Voting Rights Act= No more than 30 days residence.Voting Rights Act= No more than 30 days residence.• States prohibit transients.States prohibit transients.

– 3) Age3) Age• 2626thth Amend= 18 years minimum to vote Amend= 18 years minimum to vote• Georgia was the first.Georgia was the first.• ““Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.”Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.”

Other Qualifications

Registration (20-30 days before)Registration (20-30 days before)– All voters must provide ID to prevent fraud.All voters must provide ID to prevent fraud.– Voters can list party preference.Voters can list party preference.– Motor Voter Law 1995- register to vote when Motor Voter Law 1995- register to vote when

applying/renewing, by mail, or any GOV officeapplying/renewing, by mail, or any GOV office– Registered forever…..unlessRegistered forever…..unless

• Purging- removing names no longer eligiblePurging- removing names no longer eligible• Poll books- list of all those registered.Poll books- list of all those registered.

LiteracyLiteracy– Proving a persons ability to read or write.Proving a persons ability to read or write.– Used to disenfranchise African Americans and Used to disenfranchise African Americans and

minorities.minorities.

Tax PaymentTax Payment– Poll tax payment in order to vote.Poll tax payment in order to vote.– Originated in Florida in 1889Originated in Florida in 1889– 2424thth Amend= Illegal to charge tax. Amend= Illegal to charge tax.

DeniedDenied– Those in mental institutions or found mentally Those in mental institutions or found mentally

competent. competent. – Those charged with serious crimes.Those charged with serious crimes.– Those dishonorably discharged from military.Those dishonorably discharged from military.

Bell Ringer

Write a 1 paragraph story where a talking rabbit is the main character.– Put HW on your DESK!

6.3 Suffrage & Civil Rights15th Amendment:15th Amendment:– Purpose is to extend suffrage to Af. Americans. Purpose is to extend suffrage to Af. Americans. – Right to vote cannot be denied based on color, race, or Right to vote cannot be denied based on color, race, or

servitude. servitude. – Was not enforceable by law.Was not enforceable by law.– Af. Am. Were kept from voting through the use of… Af. Am. Were kept from voting through the use of…

literacy tests, poll tax, & violence. literacy tests, poll tax, & violence. – Gerrymandering:Gerrymandering: the practice of drawing electoral district the practice of drawing electoral district

lines in order to limit the voting strength of a group or lines in order to limit the voting strength of a group or party. party.

– White Primary- excluded Af. Am. from participating in White Primary- excluded Af. Am. from participating in primaries. primaries.

Civil Rights Legislation

Civil Rights Act 1957:Civil Rights Act 1957:– Set up a Commission to report discrimination to Set up a Commission to report discrimination to

Congress, Pres, & media. Congress, Pres, & media. – Allowed for Fed. Court Orders to prevent interference of Allowed for Fed. Court Orders to prevent interference of

people’s rights. people’s rights.

Civil Rights Act of 1964Civil Rights Act of 1964– Forbids the use of any voter registration & literacy test Forbids the use of any voter registration & literacy test

requirement in a discriminatory manner. requirement in a discriminatory manner. – Injunction:Injunction: is court order that compels or restrains the is court order that compels or restrains the

performance of some act by a private individual of by a performance of some act by a private individual of by a public official.public official.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Enforced the 15Enforced the 15thth Amendment! Amendment!

It applied to ALL elections!It applied to ALL elections!

Only to be effective for 5 years, but amendments Only to be effective for 5 years, but amendments extended to 25 years.extended to 25 years.

Dept. of Justice must give PRECLEARANCE to Dept. of Justice must give PRECLEARANCE to change or create election laws. change or create election laws.

In 1992: Ballots must be printed in the language of a In 1992: Ballots must be printed in the language of a minority community with 10K or more people. minority community with 10K or more people.

Ch. Review pg 174: – Questions 1-5, 11-12, 15-26

Bell Ringer 10/20

1 Paragraph:Why is voting so important to our system of government? In your opinion, why are so many people registering to vote this election than in any other election in recent history?

Voter Behavior

““Your vote, Your voice.” – Rock the VoteYour vote, Your voice.” – Rock the VoteNonvotersNonvoters– Greek word for “idiot” comes from idiotes- citizens who Greek word for “idiot” comes from idiotes- citizens who

don’t votedon’t vote– Those who don’t vote, don’t get to complain!Those who don’t vote, don’t get to complain!

The ProblemThe Problem– Millions of people do not vote. Millions of people do not vote. – Off year elections are the worst. (Congressional)Off year elections are the worst. (Congressional)– Voter Fatigue- farther down the ballot, the less votes they Voter Fatigue- farther down the ballot, the less votes they

get. get.

Why?– Cannot voters- aliens, disabled, sick, physical disablities.– Actual Nonvoters- people who choose not to vote.

• Political Efficacy- lack of sense about their own influcence in politics.

• Why? They feel they can’t make a difference.– They are content with status quo, They distrust politicans, They

dislike the process, etc

– Those who are more likely to vote share the following characteristics: Higher income, education, status.

– Those more likely not to vote are: younger than 35, unmarried, unskilled, southern, rural.

Voter BehaviorThe Study of Behavior:The Study of Behavior:– 1) Results of a particular election1) Results of a particular election– 2) The Field of Survey Research2) The Field of Survey Research– 3) Studies of Political Socialization3) Studies of Political Socialization

• How people gain their political attitudes & opinions.How people gain their political attitudes & opinions.• Process begins in childhood. What were their Process begins in childhood. What were their

experiences?experiences?

Factors that Influence VotersFactors that Influence Voters– Psychological= Study of the mind & individual Psychological= Study of the mind & individual

behavior.behavior.• What are the voter’s perception on politics, parties, What are the voter’s perception on politics, parties,

candidates, & issuescandidates, & issues

– Sociological= How do we behave in groups?Sociological= How do we behave in groups?• 1) Personal Characteristics1) Personal Characteristics• 2) Group Affiliation2) Group Affiliation

Sociological Factors1) IncomeIncome– Low= DemocratsLow= Democrats– High= RepublicanHigh= Republican

2) 2) EducationEducation– College grads vote Republican more than HS grads. College grads vote Republican more than HS grads.

3) 3) Gender/AgeGender/Age– Gender Gaps: Differences in voting for Men & Women.Gender Gaps: Differences in voting for Men & Women.

• Men = Republican Women= DemocratsMen = Republican Women= Democrats4) 4) Religious/ EthnicReligious/ Ethnic– Protestants= GOP Jews/Catholics= Demo Minorities= DemoProtestants= GOP Jews/Catholics= Demo Minorities= Demo

5) 5) GeographyGeography– Blue vs Red StatesBlue vs Red States– Cities= Demo Suburbs/Rural= GOPCities= Demo Suburbs/Rural= GOP

6) 6) Family/GroupsFamily/Groups– Vote the same as your family.Vote the same as your family.

Psychological Factors

1) Party IdentificationParty Identification– Loyalty to a Pol. PartyLoyalty to a Pol. Party– Straight-Ticket VotingStraight-Ticket Voting– Spilt-Ticket VotingSpilt-Ticket Voting– IndependentsIndependents

2) 2) Candidates & IssuesCandidates & Issues– Who do you like or trust the most?Who do you like or trust the most?– What issues are important to you?What issues are important to you?

Assignment

Create a 2 minute commercial about why it is important vote. – Remember you are selling a product. Make sure you

tell your viewers why they need the product in their lives!