[ 10.2 ] Your Right to Vote

[ 10.2 ] Your Right to Vote Learning Objectives Identify and explain constitutional restrictions on the States' power to set voting qualifications. Understand the criteria for voting in elections. Understand the voter registration process and the controversies surrounding voter registration. Explain the other requirements that States use or have used as voting qualifications.

[ 10.2 ] Your Right to Vote Aliens transients Registration purging Key Terms Aliens transients Registration purging poll books literacy William O. Douglas

Voting Qualifications and the Federal Government The history of American suffrage has been marked by two long-term trends. You’ve already read about the first—the gradual expansion of the electorate. Second, a significant share of what was originally the States’ power over the right to vote has been gradually assumed by the Federal Government. While the Constitution reserves the power to set suffrage qualifications to the States, several constitutional provisions do limit the role of State governments in this area.

Voting Qualifications and the Federal Government This lithograph celebrates the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870. Analyze Images What potential effects of the amendment does the lithograph portray?

Universal Criteria for Voting Are you qualified to vote? Probably not—at least not yet. Do you know why? In this section, you will see how the States, including yours, determine who can vote. You will also see that the various qualifications they set are not very difficult to meet.

Citizenship Criteria Residence Criteria Laws and Court Actions Universal Criteria for Voting Citizenship Criteria Residence Criteria Laws and Court Actions Age Criteria The Youth Vote

Universal Criteria for Voting In 1882 when this photograph was taken, the adults in this immigrant family could probably vote in State elections if they had applied for citizenship.

Universal Criteria for Voting The Federal Government does not set any voting qualifications based on residence, but the States can and do set such requirements. Analyze Charts What is the purpose of residency requirements?

The Voter Registration Process One other significant qualification, registration, is nearly universal among the States today. Registration is a procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting. It gives election officials a list of those persons who are qualified to vote in an election. Several States also use voter registration to identify voters in terms of their party preference and, thus, their eligibility to take part in closed primaries.

Registration Requirements Controversies Surrounding Registration The Voter Registration Process Registration Requirements Controversies Surrounding Registration Voter ID Laws

The Voter Registration Process Registering to vote has become more convenient in recent years. Analyze Charts What is the purpose of 'streamlining' voter registration?

The Voter Registration Process A woman proudly shows her ink-stained finger after voting in Iraq, where democratic elections are relatively new. Like registration requirements, the ink is meant to prevent election fraud.

Historical Criteria for Voting Suffrage qualifications based on two other factors—literacy and tax payment—were once fairly common among the States. They had a fairly long history but are no longer to be found anywhere.

Literacy Qualifications Grandfather Clauses Literacy Tests Banned Historical Criteria for Voting Literacy Qualifications Grandfather Clauses Literacy Tests Banned Poll Taxes Qualifications for Voting

Historical Criteria for Voting A man studies a practice form for a voter registration test in 1962. Until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, many States used literacy tests to disenfranchise minority voters.

Historical Criteria for Voting This is one extreme example, from Louisiana, of the literacy tests once used throughout the South. Analyze Charts What observation can you make about these test questions?

Quiz: Voting Qualifications and the Federal Government Which of the following does the Constitution prohibit? A. setting residence requirements for voting B. setting citizenship requirements for voting C. setting registration requirements for voting D. setting tax payment requirements for voting

Quiz: Universal Criteria for Voting All States have residency requirements for voting. Which of the following is one reason for those requirements? A. to allow only those voters who have lived in the State the longest to vote B. to allow voters to make the most informed vote possible C. to allow voters to decide if they will remain a resident before voting D. to allow only those voters who own property to vote

Quiz: The Voter Registration Process What is the MAIN purpose of the Motor Voter Act? A. to expand the electorate by making it easier to register to vote B. to improve the electoral process by ensuring that States purge their poll books C. to encourage voter turnout by allowing any voter to register on election day D. to encourage voter turnout by allowing any voter with a driver's license to vote

Quiz: Historical Criteria for Voting Which of the following BEST explains why Connecticut and Massachusetts adopted literacy tests in the 1800s? A. to ensure that only the most informed citizens could vote B. to comply with the Motor Voter Act C. to prevent certain segments of the population from voting D. to give white candidates an advantage over African American candidates