Voting and Voter Behavior

The History of Voting Rights Framers of the Constitution left power to set suffrage qualifications to States. Framers of the Constitution left power to set suffrage qualifications to States. Suffrage = right to vote. Franchise = same thing. Suffrage = right to vote. Franchise = same thing. Electorate is all people entitled to vote. Electorate is all people entitled to vote. Initially, right to vote limited to white male property owners. Initially, right to vote limited to white male property owners. Today, electorate > 200 million people. Nearly all 18+ citizens qualify to vote. Today, electorate > 200 million people. Nearly all 18+ citizens qualify to vote.

Suffrage Timeline Suffrage Timeline By 1810 religious qualifications were eliminated By 1840s property requirements th Amendment- race th Amendment- gender rd Amendment- DC residents th Amendment – no poll tax Voting Rights Act th Amendment – age 18+

Setting Voter Qualifications The Constitution sets 5 limits on power of States to set voter qualifications:

Universal requirementsUniversal requirements set by the states Universal requirements Citizenship-(varies by state) Citizenship-(varies by state)  Nothing in the Constitution says non- citizens cannot vote Residency-(varies by state) Residency-(varies by state)  need to be in the state > than 31 days to vote in a Presidential election Age Age  Limit cannot be higher than 18

Registration- a procedure of voter ID to prevent fraudulent voting A Progressive reform – early 1900s A Progressive reform – early 1900s All states except North Dakota require registration All states except North Dakota require registration “Motor-Voter” Law since 1995 “Motor-Voter” Law since 1995

Persons denied the vote No state allows people in mental institutions to vote. No state allows people in mental institutions to vote. ¼ of the states deny voting to felons. ¼ of the states deny voting to felons. A few states don’t allow those dishonorably discharged from military to vote. A few states don’t allow those dishonorably discharged from military to vote.

Legal Ways Around 15 th Amendment Used heavily after passage of 15 th amendment Used heavily after passage of 15 th amendment Literacy tests – potential voters must read & “understand” a passage Literacy tests – potential voters must read & “understand” a passage Registration – used to keep certain groups from qualifying to vote Registration – used to keep certain groups from qualifying to vote

Legal Ways Around 15 th Amendment Poll taxes – used to keep people in poverty (mostly minorities) from voting Poll taxes – used to keep people in poverty (mostly minorities) from voting Gerrymandering – drawing electoral district lines to limit voting strength of a certain group or party Gerrymandering – drawing electoral district lines to limit voting strength of a certain group or party Voter ID laws? Voter ID laws?

Early Civil Rights Legislation Civil Rights Act of 1957 Civil Rights Act of 1960 Created US Civil Rights Commission - Investigates & reports voter discrimination Gave Attorney General power that requires federal courts to issue orders preventing interference with right to vote Created federal voting referees who help correct conditions to prevent discrimination

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Law More far-reaching than Civil Rights Acts of 1957 & 1960, Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished use of voter registration or literacy requirement to discriminate against voters. More far-reaching than Civil Rights Acts of 1957 & 1960, Civil Rights Act of 1964 abolished use of voter registration or literacy requirement to discriminate against voters. Enforcement relied on judicial action & use of injunctions — court orders that force or restrain certain acts. Enforcement relied on judicial action & use of injunctions — court orders that force or restrain certain acts. The Aftermath The violent response of civilians, police & state troopers to a voter registration drive mounted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama showed Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960 and 1964 were still not enough to ensure voter equality. The violent response of civilians, police & state troopers to a voter registration drive mounted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama showed Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960 and 1964 were still not enough to ensure voter equality.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 *

Political Participation and Awareness in America

Why people do not vote Close to 100 million didn’t vote in 2004 Close to 100 million didn’t vote in million 100 million % of non-voters generally increasing % of non-voters generally increasing –56.7% of eligible voters voted for president  %, %, %, % Cannot voters – million Cannot voters – million –10 million resident aliens –5-6 million ill, disabled –500,000 in mental institutions –2-3 million traveling unexpectedly –2 million in jail –100,000 who do not vote based on religious reasons What about everybody else?

What for? It won’t make any difference Everything’s fine. Why bother? the “system”. I refuse to participate! Uggghhh! The line’s too long and it’s raining… I don’t know. I don’t care. 80,000,000 votes

idiot from the Greek word idiotes: those who did not vote or take part in civic life

Sociological factors determining whether or how people vote

Sociological factors determining how people vote 1. Income, occupation –Lower income groups vote Democrat 2. Education –Slightly higher % of college graduates vote Republican 3. Gender –Women generally more likely to vote Democrat 4. Age –Younger people tend to vote Democrat

Sociological factors of voting 5. Religion - Republican party recent gains –Protestants = Republican –Catholics & Jews = Democrat 6. Ethnic Background –African Americans typically vote Democrat –Mexican Americans & Puerto Ricans usually vote Democrat –Whites & Cubans usually vote Republican 7. Family –9/10 married couples share partisan leanings –2/3 people vote like their parents

Voters Straight ticket Straight ticket –vote the same party in all races Split-ticket Split-ticket –split presidential and Congressional and/or state and local Independent Independent –do not vote according to party affiliation

Use this website: Who is the current California Secretary of State? 2. What are the qualifications to vote in California? 3. If you want to vote in the next election, when is the deadline for registration? 4. How do you register to vote? 5. When is the next California primary? This is a _ !