Kick off 12/3 Many states (including AL) require a voter to show an ID to cast a ballot. Do you think this is a good requirement? Why or why not? What requirements would you make to vote if you were in charge of that issue?

Elections and Voting

Expansion of Suffrage Early Requirements – White – Male – Own property African American Suffrage – 15 th Amendment – vote cannot be denied based on race – Restrictions – southern states restricted vote through: 1.Literacy tests 2.Poll tax 3.Grandfather clause – 24 th Amendment – no poll tax – Voting Rights Act of Result of the Civil Rights movement (MLK, Selma-Montgomery March, etc) 2.Federal supervision of state elections where discrimination was evident 3.No literacy tests 4.No unfair districts 5.Multi-lingual ballots

Expansion of Suffrage Woman’s Suffrage – 19 th Amendment – Result of women’s role in WWI on the home front The 26 th Amendment – Gave 18 year olds the right to vote – Result of the Vietnam War 1.War was unpopular among younger people 2.18 years olds could be drafted but had no representation in Congress or the White House

Campaign Finance Laws Purpose: To level the playing field in elections in regards to money FECA (Federal Elections Campaign Act) 1.public disclosure of spending 2.Prohibit unions and business organizations from contributing 3.Limits on individual contributions FEC (Federal Election Commission) – agency responsible for enforcing election laws FECA loopholes 1.Issue advocacy advertising – ads that attack or support a candidate indirectly by speaking about an issue 2.Soft money donations – money given to political parties rather than candidates

Campaign Finance Laws Court cases 1. Buckley v Valeo – campaign spending is speech, struck down limits to campaign spending, upheld the much of the rest of the FECA 2.Citizens United v FEC – unions and corporations can broadcast political information within 30 days of an election Controversy - the desire to limit the influence of money on politics vs the desire for freedom of speech