1. VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR
CHAPTER 6 GOVERNMENT
VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR

2. CHAPTER 6 SECTION 1 THE RIGHT TO VOTE
AFFECTED BY THE 15TH, 19TH, 26TH AMENDMENTS
SUFFRAGE MEANS THE RIGHT TO VOTE
FRANCHISE IS ANOTHER TERM FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE

3. THE HISTORY OF VOTING RIGHTS-EXPANSION
RIGHT TO VOTE WAS RESTRICTED TO WHITE MALES WHO OWNED PROPERTY
ELECTORATE IS THE POTENTIAL VOTING POPULATION
230 MILLION PEOPLE QUALIFY TO VOTE
TWO TRENDS CHANGED VOTER QUALIFICATON
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, RACE, GENDER, RELIGIOUS BELIEF, TAX PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS WERE ELIMINATED
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER THE STATES’ POWER OVER THE RIGHT TO VOTE

4. EXTENDING SUFFRAGE: THE FIVE STAGES
RELIGIOUS, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, TAX PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS WERE ELIMINATED IN THE 1800S
A MAJORITY OF ALL WHITE MALES COULD VOTE
RATIFIED IN 1870, THE 15TH AMENDMENT PROHIBITS ANYONE FROM BEING DENIED TO VOTE BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE OR COLOR
AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE STILL DISENFRANCHISED MEANING THEY WERE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE

5. 3. THE 19TH AMENDMENT WAS PASSED (1920) TO PROHIBIT VOTING RESTRICTIONS AGAINST CITIZENS BASED ON SEX
WYOMING GAVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 1969 AND BY 1920 MORE THAN HALF THE STATES FOLLOWED SUIT
4. RACIAL EQUALITY WAS GRANTED AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTS OF 1965
23RD AMENDMENT PASSED IN 1961 GAVE THE VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA THE RIGHT TO VOTE
24TH AMENDMENT RATIFIED IN 1964 ELIMINATED THE POLL TAX, A TAX IMPOSED BY STATES AS A QUALIFICATION FOR VOTING
5. THE 26TH AMENDMENT (1971) SET THE VOTING AGE TO 18

6. THE POWER TO SET VOTING QUALIFICATIONS
THE POWER TO SET SUFFRAGE QUALIFICATIONS IS RESERVED TO THE STATES WITH FIVE RESTRICTIONS ON THAT POWER
A VOTER FOR THE “MOST NUMEROUS BRANCH” OF ITS OWN LEGISLATION MUST ALSO BE ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS IN CONGRESS
NO STATE CAN DENY ANY PERSON THE RIGHT TO VOTE DUE TO THEIR RACE, COLOR OR PREVIOUS CONDITION OF SERVITUDE-15TH AMENDMENT
NO STATE CAN DENY ANY PERSON OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE DUE TO THEIR SEX-19TH AMENDMENT

7. 4. NO STATE CAN DEMAND PAYMENT OF ANY TAX TO TAKE PART IN NOMINATING OR ELECTING AN OFFICEHOLDER-24TH AMENDMENT
5. NO STATE CAN DENY ANY PERSON THE RIGHT TO VOTE IF THEY ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE-26TH AMENDMENT
*STATES CANNOT VIOLATE PROVISIONS IN THE CONSTITION IN SETTING SUFFRAGE QUALIFICATIONS
*HILL VS. STONE (1975)-COURT CASE AGAINST THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION THAT STATED ONLY THOSE PERSONS WHO OWNED TAXABLE PROPERTY COULD VOTE. THE COURT FOUND THE SUFFRAGE QUALIFICATION TO BE UNRESONABLE AND PROHIBITED BY THE 14TH AMENDMENT’S EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE.

8. CHAPTER 6 SECTION 2 VOTER QUALIFICATIONS
UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENTS
CITIZENSHIP
RESIDENCE
AGE

9. CITIZENSHIP:
ALIENS, FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT BECOME CITIZENS, ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE BUT THIS IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION.
ANY STATE CAN ALLOW ALIENS TO VOTE IF THEY CHOOSE. SOME STATES ALLOW THOSE WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR NATURALIZATION- APPLIED FOR CITIZENSHIP. OTHER STATES ALLOW ALIENS TO VOTE AS A WAY TO ATTRACT SETTLERS.
PENNSYLVANIA’S CONSTITUTION SAYS ONE MUST HAVE BECOME A CITIZEN A MONTH BEFORE AN ELECTION IN ORDER TO VOTE

10. RESIDENCE
MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT IN THE STATE ONE WANTS TO VOTE IN FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. THE TIME REQUIREMENT IS DONE TO KEEP FROM BRINGING IN ENOUGH OUTSIDERS TO AFFECT THE ELECTION AND TO ALLOW THE NEW VOTERS A CHANCE TO GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES AND THE ISSUES.
1/3 OF STATES REQUIRE ONE TO LIVE IN THE STATE FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS.
VOTING RIGHTS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970 BANNED REQUIREMENTS LONGER THAN 30 DAYS FOR VOTING IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
DUNN VS. BLUMSTEIN (1972) COURT FOUND TENNESSEE’S REQUIREMENT OF A YEAR IN THE STATE AND 90 DAYS IN THE COUNTRY UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE SUPREME COURT STATED “30 DAYS APPEARS TO BE AN AMPLE PERIOD OF TIME” AND STATES STARTED ACCEPTING THE STANDARD.
STATES PROHIBIT TRANSIENTS, PERSONS WHO PLAN TO LIVE IN A STATE FOR ONLY A SHORT TIME, FROM GAINING LEGAL RESIDENCE THERE. EXAMPLE: COLLEGE A STUDENT, SOME MAY VOTE IF THEY CLAIM THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY AS THEIR LEGAL RESIDENCE.

11. AGE
26TH AMENDMENT (1971): CITIZENS WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE MAY VOTE
GEORGIA WAS THE FIRST STATE TO ALLOW 18 YEAR OLDS TO VOTE IN 1943 DURING WWII
“OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE.”
REGISTRATION
*THE PROCEDURE OF VOTER IDENTIFICATION INTENDED TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT VOTING. IT IS ALSO A WAY OF SEEING WHO IS QUALIFIED TO VOTE AND THEIR PARTY PREFERENCE.
*ONE CAN REGISTER WHEN GETTING A LICENSE, AT CERTAIN EVENTS, OR AT THE COUNTRY CLERK’S OFFICE.

12. REQUIREMENTS
ONE IS REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ALL THE STATES EXCEPT NORTH DAKOTA
REGISTRATION INCLUDES PROVIDING NAME, AGE, PLACE OF BIRTH, PRESENT ADDRESS, LENGTH OF RESIDENCE, ETC.
ELECTION OFFICERS REVIEW THE POLL BOOKS, THE LISTS OF QUALIFIED VOTERS, EVERY TWO OR FOUR YEARS. THIS IS KNOWN AS PURGING.

13. CONTROVERSIES
SOME VIEW VOTER REGISTRATION AS A WAY OF KEEPING POOR AND LESS EDUCATED PEOPLE FROM VOTING, AND THEY USE THE FACT THAT VOTER TURNOUT BEGAN TO DECLINE IN THE EARLY 1900S AS SUPPORT. OTHERS VIEW IT AS A WAY TO PREVENT FRAUD.
MOTOR VOTER ACT (1995)
ELIGIBLE CITIZENS CAN REGISTER TO VOTE WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A DRIVER’S LICENSE.
VOTER REGISTRATION CAN BE DONE BY MAIL
REGISTRATION FORMS MADE AVAILABLE AT LOCAL OFFICES OF STATE EMPLOYMENT, WELFARE, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES
A VOTER CANNOT BE PURGED FOR NOT VOTING
VOTER ID LAWS WERE PASSED TO CONFIRM VOTER IDENTITY AT THE POLLS

14. LITERACEY, TAX PAYMENT LITERACY-A PERSON’S ABILITY TO READ OR WRITE
VOTER LITERACY IS NO LONGER REQUIRED TO VOTE. IN THE PAST ONE USED TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO READ, WRITE, AND IN SOME CASES UNDERSTAND A PASSAGE FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION. THIS WAS DONE TO LIMIT IRISH CATHOLIC IMMIGRANTS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM VOTING.
GRANDFATHER CLAUSES- STATED THAT ANY MAN, OR HIS MALE DESCENDENTS, WHO HAD VOTED IN THE STATE BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE 15TH AMENDMENT COULD VOTE WITH MEETING A LITERACY OR TAXPAYING QUALIFICATION
OREGON V. MITCHELL (1970) - BANNED THE LITERACY QUALIFICATION

15. TAX PAYMENT
ONE FELL UNDER THIS CATEGORY IF THEY OWNED PROPERTY OR OWNED OTHER THINGS THAT CALLED FOR TAX PAYMENT. THIS WAS DONE TO DISCOURAGE AFRICAN AMERICANS THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
24TH AMENDMENT (1964) - BANNED THE POLL TAX AS A CONDITION FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND IN 1966 IT WAS BANNED IN ALL ELECTIONS
PERSONS DENIED TO VOTE
ALMOST ALL STATES DENY THOSE WHO ARE IN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS THE RIGHT TO VOTE
MOST STATES TEMPORARILY DISQUALIFY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF SERIOUS CRIMES
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMED FORCES DISHONORABLY TO VOTE

16. CHAPTER 6 SECTION 3 SUFFRAGE AND CIVIL RIGHTS
15TH AMENDMENT (1870)
- ANY CITIZEN CANNOT BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE OF “RACE, COLOR, OR PREVIOUS CONDITION OF SERVITUDE.”

17. HISTORY
VIOLENCE, FIRING FROM A JOB, OR DENYING FAMILY CREDIT AT STORES WERE OFTEN USED BY WHITES TO KEEP AFICAN AMERICANS FROM VOTING
OTHER “LEGAL” PRACTICES WERE USED SUCH AS LITERACY TESTS, REGISTRATION LAWS, POLL TAXES, “WHITE PRIMARIES”, AND GERRYMANDERING ( DRAWING ELECTORAL DISTRICT LINES IN A WAY TO LIMIT A PARTICULAR GROUPS VOTING STRENGTH)
COURT RULINGS
SMITH V. ALLWRIGHT (1944) OUTLAWED THE WHITE PRIMARY
GOMILLION V. LIGHTFOOT (1960) OUTLAWED THE PRACTICE OF GERRYMANDERING

18. EARLY CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION
ACTS OF 1957 AND 1960
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957 CREATED THE UNITED STATES COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS. THEY INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF VOTER DISCRIMINATION. IT ALSO GAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE POWER TO SEEK FEDERAL COURT ORDERS TO HELP PREVENT A PERSON’S RIGHT TO VOTE FROM BEING INTERFERED WITH.
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1960 APPOINTED FEDERAL VOTING REFEREES. THEY SERVED WHERE VOTER DISCRIMINATION WAS FOUND. THEY ALSO HELPED QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO REGISTER AND VOTE IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
OUTLAWED DISCRIMINATION BY LITERACY TESTS OR IN VOTER REGISTRATION AND USED INJUNCTIONS, FEDERAL COURT ORDERS THAT FORCES OR RESTRAINS THE PRODUCTION OF SOME ACT BY A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL OR PUBLIC OFFICIAL
IN SELMA, ALABAMA (1965) DR. KING ORGANIZED A DRIVE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION TO GET ATTENTION ON THE LACT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTING RIGHTS IN A MARCH TO THE CAPITOL THAT ENDED IN VIOLENCE. ONCE PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON HAD HEARD OF THE VIOLENCE HE URGED CONGRESS TO PASS STRONGER LEGISLATION TO CONFIRM AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTING RIGHTS.

19. VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
* DIRECTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CHALLENGE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF REMAINING STATE POLL TAX LAWS IN FEDERAL COURTS. THIS LED TO HARPER V. VIRGINIA BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
* IT POSTPONED THE USE OF LITERACY TESTS IN STATES WHERE LESS THAN HALF OF THE ELECTORATE HAD REGISTERED OR VOTED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS TO APPOINT VOTING EXAMINERS TO SERVE IN THOSE STATES.

20. PRECLEARANCE
NEW ELECTION LAWS OR CHANGES IN THE LAWS COULD NOT BE PUT INTO EFFECT UNTIL THEY RECEIVED PRECLEARANCE, APPROVAL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
STATES COULD BE REMOVED FROM THE LAW’S COVERAGE THROUGH THE “BAIL-OUT” PROCESS.
AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT
VOTING RIGHTS ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1970 EXTENDED THE LAW FOR 5 YEARS UPHELD BY OREGON V. MITCHELL
1975. LAW EXTENDED AGAIN BUT MADE BAN ON LITERACY PERMANENT
“LANGUAGE MINORITIES” WERE ALSO BROUGHT TO ATTENTION AND NOW IN CERTAIN AREAS BALLOTS ARE PRINTED IN ENGLISH AND THE OTHER MINORITY LANGUAGES OF THAT AREA
1982. AMENDMENTS EXTENDED FOR 25 MORE YEARS
1992. THE LANGUAGE-MINORITY PROVISIONS NOW APPLIED TO ANY COMMUNITY THAT HAD A MINORITY LANGUAGE POPULATION OF 10,000 OR MORE

21. SECTION 4 VOTER BEHAVIOR
NONVOTING
2008 ONLY 60 PERCENT OF AVAILABLE VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS
OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS, CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS HELD IN THE EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS BETWEEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, SEE EVEN WORSE VOTING PERCENTAGES
PEOPLE GET BALLOT FATIGUE, VOTERS CAST FEWER VOTES FOR OFFICES LISTED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT. GOVERNSHIP GETS MORE VOTES BECAUSE OF PLACEMENT ON THE BALLOT.
MORE PEOPLE VOTE ON YEARS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

22. WHY PEOPLE DO NOT VOTE
“CANNOT-VOTERS”-SOME NONVOTERS DO NOT ACTUALLY QUALIFY TO VOTE DUE TO AN ILLNESS, PHYSICALLY DISABLED, MENTAL CONDITIONS, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, IN JAIL/PRISON.
ACTUAL NONVOTERS
SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THEIR VOTE MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE
PEOPLE BELIEVE THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GO WELL NO MATTER WHO WINS THE ELECTION
OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT TRUST POLITICAL PROCESSES AND MAY FEAR THEM
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS, LONG BALLOTS, LONG LINES, BAD WEATHER, AND TIME-ZONE FALLOUT(PEOPLE MAY HEAR PREDICTED WINNER AND GET DISCOURAGED) ARE ALSO REASONS PEOPLE CHOOSE TO NOT VOTE

23. COMPARING VOTERS AND NONVOTERS
VOTERS ARE GENERALLY MARRIED, HAVE AN EDUCATION, AND HAVE A HIGHER INCOME
HIGH POLITICAL EFFICIACY(A PERSON’S INFLUENCE OR EFFECTIVENESS IN POLITICS) AND HIGH COMPETITION BETWEEN CANDIDATES MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE
NONVOTERS ARE GENERALLY UNMARRIED, YOUNGER THAN 35, AND UNSKILLED
MEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO VOTE THAN WOMEN

24. VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR
STUDYING VOTING BEHAVIOR
RESULTS OF PARTICULAR ELECTIONS
THE FIELD OF SURVEY RESEARCH
STUDIES OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION, THE PROCESS BY WHICH PEOPLE GAIN THEIR POLITICAL ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE VOTERS
SOCIOLOGY-VOTER’S PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND GROUP AFFILIATIONS
PSYCHOLOGY-VOTER’S PERCEPTIONS OF POLITICS

25. SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS
INCOME AND OCCUPATION
THOSE WITH HIGHER INCOMES AND ARE PROFESSIONAL/BUISNESS PEOPLE TEND TO VOTE REPUBLICAN
THOSE WITH LOWER INCOMES AND HAVE JOBS LIKE A MANUAL WORKER TEND TO VOTE DEMOCRAT
EDUCATION
COLLEGE GRADUATES VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS IN HIGHER PERCENTAGES THAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES BUT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TEND TO VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS IN HIGHER PERCENTAGES THAN THOSE WHO HAVE ONLY COMPLETED GRADE SCHOOL

26. GENDER, AGE
GENDER GAP, MEASURABLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PARTISAN CHOICES OF MEN AND WOMEN
VOTE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON CERTAIN ISSUES
RELIGION, ETHIC BACKGROUND
EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST OR CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AFFECTING THAT RELIGION EFFECTS HOW PERSONS OF THOSE RELIGIONS VOTE
GEOGRAPHY
BIG CITIES TEND TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC WHILE SUBURBAN ARES AND SMALLER CITIES TEND TO VOTE REPUBLICAN
FAMILY AND OTHER GROUPS
ONE GENERALLY VOTES THE SAME WAY THEIR PARENTS, CO-WORKERS, AND FRIENDS VOTE

27. PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
PARTY IDENTIFICATION-LOYALTY OF PEOPLE TO A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY. MOST PEOPLE CHOOSE A PARTY EARLY IN LIFE AND STAY WITH THEM.
STRAIGHT-TICKET VOTING IS THE PRACTICE OF VOTING FOR CANDIDATES OF ONLY ONE PARTY IN AN ELECTION
AN INCREASE HAS OCCURRED OF SPLIT-TICKET VOTING. THE PRACTICE OF VOTING FOR THE CANDIDATES OF MORE THAN ONE PARTY IN AN ELECTION.
INDEPENDENTS ARE ALSO INCREASING. THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO PARTY AFFILIATION.

28. CANDIDATES AND ISSUES
SHORT-TERM FACTORS CAN CAUSE A VOTER TO LEAVE A PARTY OR TO HAVE A SPLIT TICKET
HOW VOTERS SEE THE CANDIDATE’S IMPRESSION AND THE OPPOSING CANDIDATE
HOW THE CANDIDATES PRESENT ISSUES