VOTERS AND VOTER BEHAVIOR

THE ABC’S OF THE PEOPLE WHO PICK THE PRESIDENT

OBJECTIVES

STUDENTS WILL IDENTIFY THE UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING IN THE UNITED STATES

STUDENTS WILL IDENTIFY AMENDMENTS AND LEGISLATION AFFECTING RIGHTS TO VOTE

STUDENTS WILL ANALYZE THE SOCIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT VOTING BEHAVIOR

VOCABULARY

SUFFRAGE: THE RIGHT TO VOTE

ELECTORATE: THE POTENTIAL VOTING POPULATION

REGISTRATION: PROCEDURE OF VOTER IDENTIFICATION TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT VOTING

POLL TAX: SPECIAL TAX AS A CONDITION FOR VOTING

HISTORY

Framers gave States power to set suffrage qualifications

1789 Constitution - right to vote restricted to white, Male, Property owners

Two long-term trends

Gradual elimination of voter restrictionsShift from states power to federal governments power over right to vote.

EXTENDING SUFFRAGE

Early 1800s - Eliminations

Religious qualifications Property ownership

Post Civil War

15th Amendment: ‘right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude’; male slaves (1870)

EXTENDING SUFFRAGE (CONT)

Women

Denied right to vote19th Amendment: Female suffrage (1920)

Race (1960s)

Civil Rights movement ➙ Voting Rights Act of 1965: racial equality at the polling stations23rd Amendment: District of Columbia voters added (1961)24th Amendment: Eliminated poll tax (1964)

Age

1. 26th Amendment: 18 years old set (1971)

SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS

Income, Occupation

Low ➙ DemocratsHigh ➙ Republicans (professional and business)

Education

Higher Education ➙ Liberal leaning

SOCIOLOGICAL FACTORS (CONT.)

Gender/Age

Women and Young - DemocratsMen and Old - Republicans

Religious/Ethnic

Protestant - RepublicansCatholic & Jewish - DemocratsNon-Caucasian - Democrats

Geography

Small Cities - RepublicansLarge Cities - Democrats

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS

Universal Requirements

Citizenship - no foreign aliens allowed to vote

Residence - in that state (length varies in states)

Registration - Provide name, age, place of birth, present address, length of residence & ID

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS (CONT.)

Kansas

18US CitizenResidence: No lengthBe registeredDisqualifications:

a. death, federal or state felony (until sentence done)

http://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf

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Kansas Voter Registration Application Register to vote online at www.sos.ks.gov

Instructions: To register to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the State of Kansas. You must have reached the age of 18 years before the next HOHFWLRQ��,I�\RX�KDYH�EHHQ�FRQYLFWHG�RI�D�IHORQ\��\RX�PXVW�KDYH�UHFHLYHG�ÀQDO�GLVFKDUJH�IURP�LPSULVRQPHQW��SDUROH��RU�FRQGLWLRQDO�UHOHDVH��7R�FKDQJH�\RXU�QDPH�and/or address, you must have abandoned your former residence and/or name.

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Signature

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Continue to step 7

tear off instructions and seal before mailing.

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Current Kansasdriver’s license # 'HPRFUDWLF

Libertarian

Reform

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Last four digits of your social security #I do not have any of these numbers

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,�VZHDU�RU�DIÀUP�WKDW�,�DP�D�FLWL]HQ�RI�WKH�8QLWHG�6WDWHV�DQG�D�Kansas resident, that I will be 18 years old before the next election, that if convicted of a felony, I have had my civil rights restored, that I have abandoned my former residence and/or other name, and that I have told the truth.

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Kansas County City

City

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month day year 3KRQH�1XPEHU

month day year

I have resided at the above address since

These numbers will be used for administrative purposes only and will not be disclosed to the public. (K.S.A. 25-2309)

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Sign inside box

month day year

VOTER BEHAVIOR

Voters

Higher income, education, occupational status, active community member, long time resident

Non-Voters

Younger than 35, unmarried, men less likely to vote