2. Voting and Voter Behavior

3. The Vote b Government of elected representatives chosen by people to act for themchosen by people to act for them b Suffrage right to voteright to vote not a civil rightnot a civil right political rightpolitical right

4. Who can vote? b The electorate 200 million + persons who are at least 18 or older can qualify large number is result of legal definition of suffrage Two historical trends –elimination of requirements –transfer of authority from States to federal government

5. Historical Stages of Suffrage b Early 1800s - 1850 Religion, property ownership, and tax payment removedReligion, property ownership, and tax payment removed b Post Civil War 15th Amendment15th Amendment b 1920 19th Amendment19th Amendment

6. Historical Stages of Suffrage b 1960 Voting Rights Act of 1965, 24th Amendment, 23rd AmendmentVoting Rights Act of 1965, 24th Amendment, 23rd Amendment b 1971 26th Amendment26th Amendment

7. Qualifications b Power reserved to States b Constitution sets 5 restrictions on that power Article 1 Section 2 Clause 1 and 17th AmendmentArticle 1 Section 2 Clause 1 and 17th Amendment 15th Amendment15th Amendment 19th Amendment19th Amendment 24th Amendment24th Amendment 26th Amendment26th Amendment b States cannot violate any other part of the Constitution

8. Voter Qualifications All States Citizenship Residency Age Most States Registration No States Literacy tests Poll tax

9. Who Can’t Vote b All States people in mental institutions b Nearly all States people convicted of serious crimes b Some States dishonorably discharged, duelists, homeless, polygamists

10. Civil Rights Laws and Suffrage b 15th Amendment not effectivenot effective b Civil Rights Act of 1957 set up U.S. Civil Rights Commissionset up U.S. Civil Rights Commission b Civil Rights Act of 1960 federal voting refereesfederal voting referees b Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbid use of unfair or discriminatory registrationforbid use of unfair or discriminatory registration

11. Civil Rights Laws and Suffrage b Voting Rights Act of 1965 made 15th Amendment effectivemade 15th Amendment effective – no literacy tests, no poll tax, voting examiners where less than 50% of voting age citizens had been registered or had voted applies to all elections anywhereapplies to all elections anywhere extended in 1970, 1975, 1982, and 1992extended in 1970, 1975, 1982, and 1992 Since 1975 has covered “language minorities”Since 1975 has covered “language minorities” –if 10,000 persons speak a language other than English - ballots must be printed in both English and language of the minority.

12. Nonvoting b Size of the problem 1996 - only 49% of persons of voting age voted in the presidential election1996 - only 49% of persons of voting age voted in the presidential election 1996 - only 47% of those of voting age voted in the Congressional elections1996 - only 47% of those of voting age voted in the Congressional elections Even fewer people vote in non-presidential election yearsEven fewer people vote in non-presidential election years Ballot fatigue - voters have a tendency to vote in the elections higher on the ballot onlyBallot fatigue - voters have a tendency to vote in the elections higher on the ballot only

13. Reasons for Nonvoting b Alienated from process b No sense of political efficacy b Election procedures b Apathy Cannot Vote b Cannot Vote

14. Factors That Affect Voting Behavior b Psychological Factors Party IdentificationParty Identification Candidates and IssuesCandidates and Issues b Sociological Factors Income Occupation Education Sex Age Religious background Ethnicity Geography Family