Bellringer! We know that only a small group of people was allowed to vote when our country was founded. Most restrictions have been lifted, but there are still ways that BOTH political parties manipulate the vote. From the video last class, what was one way the Republicans did this and one way the Democrats did this?

Bell Ringer What is due for you next class? What do you need to do during class today to make sure you’re ready for the press conference? What questions do you have about your role and responsibilities for this project?

VOTE To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain. ~Louis L'Amour

History of Voting Rights The Framers of the Constitution left power to set suffrage qualifications to each state. Suffrage means the right to vote. Franchise means the same thing! Hooray for synonyms! The electorate is the voters. Today, the size of the American electorate is over 200 million people—nearly all citizens at least 18 years of age.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE! It hasn’t always been that way… History of voting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar7r5aG_B0Y

Today’s restrictions: Mentally incompetent Convicted felons Young people (under 18) Past groups disenfranchised: Women Poor people African-Americans Native Americans Asian immigrants • 7 states deny the right to vote to: “idiots or insane persons” • others deny the vote to those of “unsound mind, non compos mentis, or those who are not of “quiet and peaceable behavior” • 16 states bar those adjudged mentally incompetent or incapacitated from voting • 4 state constitutions bar people “under guardianship” from voting[

Universal Voter Requirements: States decide voter eligibility based on 3 factors: 1. Citizenship: Must be citizen of the United States 2. Residence: Must be legal resident of the state for a minimum amount of time 3. Age: 18 minimum age

Other Qualifications All states (except crazy ol’ North Dakota) require citizens to register to vote. Registration is a procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting. Most states close 30 days in advance *Some allow reg. day of election (ID) Rationale: prevent voter fraud http://www.idahovotes.gov/

Extending Suffrage: 5 Stages Voting expansion for white males (1800s): Religious, property, and tax qualifications eliminated

Extending Suffrage: 5 Stages 15th Amendment (1870): Racial minority males can vote (at least, that was the intention…)

Extending Suffrage: 5 Stages 19th Amendment (1920): Women can vote!

Anti-Suffrage Propaganda:

Anti-Suffrage Arguments Women would be corrupted by politics and chivalry would die out. If women became involved in politics, they would stop marrying, having children, and the human race would die out (seriously, no more humans!). Women are emotional creatures, and incapable of making a sound political decision.

Extending Suffrage: 5 Stages The 23rd Amendment (1961) granted citizens of the District of Columbia the right to vote for presidential electors The 24th Amendment (1964) eliminated the poll tax The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guaranteed the right to vote for minorities

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Law The Aftermath Abolished the use of voter registration or a literacy requirement to discriminate against any voter. Relied on injunctions—court orders—to enforce the law. (Jim Crow Poll Test) The Aftermath The violent response of civilians and police and state troopers to a voter registration drive mounted by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama showed that the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960 and 1964 were still not enough to ensure voter equality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xojzOYdz8

Extending Suffrage: 5 Stages 26th Amendment (1971): Voting age changed to 18!

Methods Used to Limit or deny the Vote: religious tests property qualifications literacy tests poll taxes gerrymandering

Poll Taxes Grandfather Clause Abolished by the 24th Amendment LITERACY TESTS Abolished by the Voting Rights Act Laws enacted by some Southern states to deny suffrage to African Americans Anyone who had been able to vote before the 15th amendment and their descendants (a.k.a. white people…) were exempt from these requirements Grandfather Clause Poll tax existed in many Southern states. Average was $11, but as high as $15 in today’s dollars.

List and describe the five stages of suffrage! Bell Ringer List and describe the five stages of suffrage!

Gerrymandering: Drawing or altering the boundaries of a constituency or congressional district in a way that affects the vote

Voter Behavior

Voter Behavior American electorate is about 200M Only about 50 to 55% vote Even less vote in congressional elections, especially off-year This year, only 55% of eligible voters cast their ballot! Lowest in two decades.  Millions of nonvoters among voters Nonvoting voters: People who can vote but don’t Ballot Fatigue: Voters who complete only part of the ballot

Why not vote?

Reasons people don’t vote 1. Lack of interest 2. Distrust politics/politicians 3. Cumbersome election process 4. “Time zone fallout” hurts west coast 5. Believe vote doesn’t matter

Cannot voters (20M) 12M resident aliens (live somewhere besides residence) 5M are ill or physically unable 2 to 3M travel unexpectedly 2 M who are in jail or prison 500,000 in mental institutions 100,000 don’t b/c religious beliefs

Voters Those most likely to vote: Higher level income, education, job Long term resident Strong party identity More competitive elections increase turnout

Factors that influence voters 1. Sociological Factors Personal characteristics – age, race, income, occupation, education, religion Group affiliations – family, co-workers, friends 2. Psychological Factors (perception of politics) View of political parties, candidates & issues