US Government CP Chapter 6 VOTING

VOTING AMENDMENTS 15th Amendment – Eliminated race as a voting restriction (1860’s) 19th Amendment – Eliminated gender (Women can vote) (1920)

AMENDMENTS 23rd Washington DC votes in national elections (1960’s) 24th Amendment – Eliminated poll tax (1960’s) 26th Amendment – Lowered the voting age to 18 (1970’s)

RESTRICTIONS and EXPANSIONS First voters were: White, male, property owner, at least 21 years old, religious affiliation By 1800’s: White, male, at least 21 years old

RESTRICTIONS and EXPANSIONS After 15th Amendment: Male, at least 21 years old (Non-whites were still prevented from voting due to tax and literacy requirements) After 19th Amendment: At least 21 years old

RESTRICTIONS and EXPANSIONS The Federal government has had to enforce voting rights because some states used intimidation to keep minorities from voting– SUPREMACY CLAUSE – The U.S. Constitution is more powerful than any state law

14th AMENDMENT Nationalized the Bill of Rights “Once a voter always a voter”: If you can vote in a federal election you can vote in any election

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS (in Ohio) US= 18, legal citizenship 30 Day Rules—before election Registration State Residency Local Residency

VOTER RESTRICTIONS (in Ohio) Incarcerated for a felony Declared incompetent for voting purposes by a probate court Not meeting 30 Day rules

PLACES TO VOTE (in Madison) Most school buildings Stratton Place Cornerstone Church

PLACES TO REGISTER Library BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) By Mail Any county/state Board of Elections High School office

METHODS of DISCRIMINATION Poll Tax Literacy tests Signature New polling places Jim Crow Laws Grandfather laws

CIVIL RIGHTS (VOTING LAWS) 1957 --- Civil Rights Commission: Investigated the claims of discrimination 1960 --- Federal referees to oversee polling places: The federal govt. assigned federal marshals to enforce voting laws

CIVIL RIGHTS (VOTING LAWS) 1965 --- Voting Rights Act (enforce ALL amendments in ALL elections) A. “Once a voter always a voter” enforced B. Preclearance for voting law changes

CIVIL RIGHTS (VOTING LAWS) 1992 --- Bi-lingual Ballots: If 30% of your population speaks another language as a first language that language must be on the ballot.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON’T VOTE Mentally ill Incarcerated (jail) Religious beliefs Physically ill No ride Efficacy (Do Not Care) Mistrust of politicians Feel that everything is fine

REASONS WHY PEOPLE DON’T VOTE Not informed Traveling Not registered Bad weather Time zone fallout --- West coast voters don’t vote due to East coast win projections

WHO VOTES? Age 45+ Upper income (White collar jobs) – the more $ you make the more likely you are to vote. $40,000+ Education – the more education you have the more likely you are to vote. College+

WHO VOTES? Strong party association (ID) A strong issue increases voter turnout Married more than singles Long time residents Urban (city) dwellers vote more than rural dwellers

SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS Democrat Blue collar Catholic/Jewish Low/middle income Urban Young (40<) Minorities W/E coast Liberal Group factors

SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS Older (45>) Republican White Collar White Mid-America Conservative Group factors Republican White Collar Protestant Upper class Rural/Suburban

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS Family/friends Strong Party ID Personal life experiences (Strong ID with an issue) Personal factors