The Right to Vote

Chapter 6

Section 1

Pages 129-131

Words You Should Know

• Suffrage – right to vote

• Franchise – means the same as suffrage

A Short History of Voting

• 1789 – White male property owners– 1 in 15 could vote

» Thomas Paine’s jackass analogy

• Today – Between 200 and 250 million people can vote– Elimination of restrictions– Federal Gov’t has assumed voter rights laws

Jackson 5

Ben Folds Five

The Four Tops

The Five Stages

• 1. Struggle to extend voting rights– Tests, taxes, race issues

• 2. Post Civil War – 15th Amendment– Stop discrimination

• 3. Ratification of 19th Amendment– Wyoming gave women the right in 1869 as a

territory– 1920 – post WWI – women earned suffrage

The Five Stages

• 4. Civil Rights Movement– Voting Rights Act of 1965– Removal of poll taxes – 23rd Amendment

• 5. 26th Amendment– Age 18

Power of Qualifications

• Constitution places five restrictions on the states in the use of suffrage qualifications:

One

• Says you can vote in all the elections within a state

Two

• No deprivation of suffrage for any reason based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude (slavery)

Three

• No deprivation based on gender

Four

• You cannot levy a tax on voters

Five

• No deprivation based on age as long as that person is 18 and above

Section 2• section two section two section two section two section two section two section two

section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two section two

Citizenship

• Aliens are denied the right to vote• Good thing too, seeing as they are from another

planet.• Some do it sneakily

• Minnesota makes you be a citizen for three months

Residence

• Residence requirements – live in a state for a period of time– 1. to keep outsiders from voting in elections

(political machines)– 2. become familiar with issues in state

• Past Requirements: Usually at least a year in the state, up to 90 days in the county, 30 days in local ward or precinct

Residence

• 15 Days in SD

• 50 in Arizona (longest)

• Why was it shortened?» Transients / College students» Traveling salesmen, armed forces, college students

Age

• 18 Years of age

• In some states 17 year olds may vote in primaries – 18th Birthday falls between primary and

general election

• Nebraska – as of 1999 17 year olds could vote if their 18th birthday fell before election day in that calendar year

Other Qualifications

• Registration – every state but ND– Does registration bar voter turnout?– Convenience

– Protect against voter fraud

• Literacy – Banning of literacy tests– Complexity of questions

• Tax Payment – no reasonable relationship found

Who Can’t Vote

• Mental institutions

• Mentally incompetent

• Felons

• Dishonorable Discharges

• Duelists, vagrants, polygamists in some states

Voter Behavior

• Voter behavior studies concentrate on three sources:– 1. The results of elections

– Areas with high concentrations of one demographic

– 2. Survey research– Polling cross sections of Americans

– 3. Studies of political socialization– How people form opinions

Factors

• Sociological factors– Personal characteristics– Group affiliations

• Psychological factors– How does the voter view parties, candidates,

or the election

Sociological Factors

• Chart – p. 147

Question:

• Does membership in a group really influence a persons voting behavior?

Psychological Factors

• Party Identification –– Many Americans latch on for life from age 18

• Straight Ticket Voting– Parties can regularly count on the votes of the

faithful

• Split Ticket Voting– On the rise

Psychological Factors

• Many voters now refer to themselves as independent– On the contrary, many support one of the

major parties

• Independent registration is seeing a great increase

Psychological Factors

• Candidates and Issues– The image / impression of a candidate– The issues at hand

• Ongoing issues and scandal in America