Voting in the United States History Eligibility

Voting History s Requirements left up to states to decide Most states only allowed white, male, property owners, 21yrs Ben Franklin—”In whom is the right of suffrage? In the man or the jackass?”

Voting History By 1840s most states had gotten rid of property and taxpaying requirement

Voting History 15 th Amendment (1870) A person could not be denied the right to vote based on race or color All males 21 yrs. Old Did not become a reality for almost a century

Voting History Southern states used Poll taxes Literacy tests Grandfather clause Physical intimidation Gerrymandering—the practice of drawing electoral district lines to limit the voting strength of a particular group or party to deny the right to vote

Voting History Gerrymandering spreads opposition in a particular way so a party usually wins groups a particular party together in one district

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Voting History Woman’s Suffrage Movement ( ) 19 th Amendment Cannot be denied the right to vote because of gender

Voting History Civil Rights Movement (1960’s) Largely based on suffrage Voting Rights Act 1965—eliminated literacy tests

Voting History 24 th Amendment Eliminated poll tax as a condition for voting in any federal election

Voting History 26 th Amendment (1971) Lowered voting age from 21yrs to 18yrs

Voter Eligibility Today Citizenship Residence Allow new voters to be familiar with area Prevent political machines Age—18 yrs old Registration Intended to prevent fraudulent voting