1. Voters and Voter Behavior
Chapter 6
Voters and Voter Behavior

2. Section 1: The Right to Vote
Facts:
Expansion of the electorate occurred in five stages: elimination of religious property, and tax qualifications; addition of the 15th and 19th amendments; passage of civil rights laws; and addition of the 23rd, 24th, and 26th amendments
States determine voting qualifications but must not deny a person aged 18 or over the right to vote on the basis of race, color, sex, nor may they impose a poll tax in federal elections

3. Section 2: Voter Qualifications
Facts:
Throughout our history, different States have imposed different qualifications for voting
The three current universal requirements are citizenship, residency, and age
People can be denied the right to vote based on mental incapability, imprisonment for some crimes, or dishonorable discharge from the armed forces
Literacy tests and poll taxes used to disenfranchise certain groups have been eliminated

4. Section 3: Suffrage and Civil Rights
Facts:
The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, forbade denial of voting rights due to race
Some southern whites used unfair laws, intimidation, and other discriminatory practices to circumvent the 15th Amendment
Supreme Court cases and civil rights laws beginning in the 1950s finally helped fulfill the purpose of the 15th Amendment

5. Section 4: Voter Behavior
Facts:
Many eligible voters do not vote for reasons ranging from illness to lack of interest
Sociological factors such as income, occupation, education, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, geography, and family and other group affiliation influence voting behavior
Psychological factors such as a person’s party identification and perception of candidates and issues affect voter behavior