Expansion of Suffrage and Voting

Suffrage / Franchise Suffrage—The right to vote, especially in a political election  —Middle English from Latin suffragium—voting tablet, vote, equivalent to Latin suffrag(ari)—to vote for, support Franchise—The right to vote  —Middle English from old French, derivative of franc free. To mark or convey

 Male  White  Age 21+  Land Owning  Literate  Passed Religious test  Paid Tax  Male/Female  All Races  Age 18+  No ownership qualifications  No tests, taxes Voting Requirements Then and Now

Expansion of Suffrage 1810: most religious tests, property requirements had been eliminated All other changes require a Constitutional Amendment After Civil War  13 th Amendment outlawed slavery  14 th gave citizenship rights to former slaves  15 th outlawed denying right to vote based on race  NOT enforced  Voting Discrimination  Poll Taxes & Literacy tests

Expansion of Suffrage 1920  19 th Prohibited denying right to vote based on gender 1960’s  23 rd Amendment – Residents of DC granted right to vote for President  24 th – outlawed poll taxes 1970’s  26 th – Voting age lowered to 18  Vietnam War

Voter Participation Who can vote?  Citizens of the United States  At least 18 years old  Registered in the state of their legal residence States have legally disenfranchised:  Mentally incompetent  Convicted of felony  Dishonorably Discharged from Military States can restrict suffrage, as long as it doesn’t contradict Constitution

Voter Participation In November 2012, only 57.5% of eligible people voted in the Presidential election  62.3% voted in the 2008 election.  Participation is even lower for off-year elections  Off year – Congressional elections held between Presidential elections (2010, 2014)

Voter Participation Why do people not vote?  Inconvenience, long lines, etc.  Don’t believe their vote will make a difference  Distrust of politics or candidates  Bad weather on voting day  Misunderstanding voter registration requirements  Voter apathy  “Time-Zone Fallout”

Voter Participation People are more likely to vote:  The older the individual gets  The more education the individual earns  The more money the individual makes  In Presidential election years  When the race is very close & highly contested