Voting in the United States

HistoryEligibility

Voting History

1787-1840s Requirements left up

to states to decide Most states only

allowed white, male, property owners, 21yrs

Ben Franklin—”In whom is the right of suffrage? In the man or the jackass?”

Voting History

By 1840s most states had gotten rid of property and taxpaying requirement

Voting History

15th Amendment (1870) A person could not be

denied the right to vote based on race or color

All males 21 yrs. Old

Did not become a reality for almost a century

                                                          

                                                                            

Voting History

Southern states used Poll taxes Literacy tests Grandfather clause Physical intimidation Gerrymandering—the

practice of drawing electoral district lines to limit the voting strength of a particular group or party to deny the right to vote

Voting History Gerrymandering

spreads opposition in a particular way so a party usually wins

groups a particular party together in one district

                                    

Old Map New Map

Voting History

Woman’s Suffrage Movement (1848-1920) 19th Amendment

Cannot be denied the right to vote because of gender

Voting History

Civil Rights Movement (1960’s) Largely based on

suffrage Voting Rights Act 1965

—eliminated literacy tests

Voting History

24th Amendment Eliminated poll tax as

a condition for voting in any federal election

Voting History

26th Amendment (1971) Lowered voting age

from 21yrs to 18yrs

Voter Eligibility Today

Citizenship Residence

Allow new voters to be familiar with area Prevent political machines

Age—18 yrs old Registration

Intended to prevent fraudulent voting