1. VOTING SUFFRAGE the right to vote ELECTORATE the potential voting population

2. VOTER QUALIFICATIONS SET BY STATES SOME RESTRICTIONS SET BY CONSTITUTION Each state must allow the same voters to vote in all elections in a state no state can deprive any person of the right to vote on account of race, color, previous servitude on account of sex who is at least 18 years of age state can require a tax to vote (poll tax)

3. WHO CANNOT VOTE ALIENS THOSE IN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS/ THE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT FELONS DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED HOMELESS POLYGAMISTS

4. RESIDENCY AND REGISTRATION ALL STATES HAVE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS ALL STATES BUT NORTH DAKOTA REQUIRE REGISTRATION TO VOTE this is to prevent fraudulent voting

5. VOTING AND BLACK AMERICANS 15 TH AMENDMENT GAVE BLACKS THE RIGHT TO VOTE VARIOUS MEASURES WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT THEM FROM VOTING Violence by white supremacists threats, social pressures literacy tests poll taxes gerrymandering

6. VOTING AND BLACK AMERICANS A SERIES OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS WERE PASSED TO PREVENT THESE Together they Provided for the power to seek court injunctions to protect voting rights suspended all literacy tests and poll taxes outlawed discrimination in jobs and voter registration

7. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT VOTE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT Resident aliens, ill people physically disabled people who have to travel unexpectedly people in mental health facilities, jails and prisons others for religious reasons

8. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT VOTE THEY ARE ACTUAL NON-VOTERS people who have apathy, or a distrust of politics

9. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT VOTE LACK OF POLITICAL EFFICACY Many people do not believe their vote will make a difference

10. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT VOTE BECAUSE THEY ARE NONVOTING VOTERS vote in a presidential election, but will only vote for president and not other candidates

11. WHY DO PEOPLE NOT VOTE BALLOT FATIGUE the farther down the ballot, the fewer votes cast

12. VOTING BEHAVIOR SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS voters’ social and economic life Age race income occupation education religion group affiliations (family, co-workers, friends

13. VOTING BEHAVIOR PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS the voters perceptions of politics Perception of politics and candidates Party identification Personal reactions to issues