Voters and Voter Voters and Voter BehaviorBehavior

Chapter 6Chapter 6

History of Voting RightsHistory of Voting Rights

The Framers purposefully left the The Framers purposefully left the power of voting to the Statespower of voting to the States

SuffrageSuffrage and and Franchise Franchise – right to – right to votevote

ElectorateElectorate – people entitled to vote – people entitled to vote Today the electorate consists of over Today the electorate consists of over

200 million people200 million people

In the Past. . .

States have limited voting rights in the following ways:– Charging poll taxes– Requiring literacy tests– Passing political socialization laws– Implementing the grandfather clause

Extending SuffrageExtending Suffrage

5 stages to where we are today5 stages to where we are today1. 1800s – property, religious, and tax 1. 1800s – property, religious, and tax

qualifications were eliminatedqualifications were eliminated

2. 1870 – 152. 1870 – 15thth Amendment Amendment

3.3.1920 – 191920 – 19thth Amendment Amendmenthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3qizZtAlcg (women’s suffrage) (women’s suffrage)

4. 1960s – 4. 1960s – Voting Rights Act 1965 – focused on all unequal Voting Rights Act 1965 – focused on all unequal

suffrage in USsuffrage in US 2323rdrd Amendment – District of Columbia (3 electoral) Amendment – District of Columbia (3 electoral) 2424thth Amendment - poll tax ended Amendment - poll tax ended

5. 1971 – 265. 1971 – 26thth Amendment Amendment

Do you have to be a US citizen Do you have to be a US citizen to vote?to vote?

Nope! Some states used to allow Nope! Some states used to allow immigrants to vote before they were immigrants to vote before they were citizens to draw people to the state.citizens to draw people to the state.

All states require it now, but its not in All states require it now, but its not in the constitutionthe constitution

Georgia Voter Registration Georgia Voter Registration RequirementsRequirements

YOU MUST YOU MUST Be a citizen of the United StatesBe a citizen of the United States Be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county Be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county

in which you want to votein which you want to vote Be 18 years old within six months after the day of Be 18 years old within six months after the day of

registration, and be 18 years old by election dayregistration, and be 18 years old by election day Not be serving a sentence for having been Not be serving a sentence for having been

convicted of a felonyconvicted of a felony Not have been judicially determined to be Not have been judicially determined to be

mentally incompetent, unless the disability has mentally incompetent, unless the disability has been removedbeen removed

Universal RequirementsUniversal Requirements

3 requirements of States3 requirements of States 1. 1. CitizenshipCitizenship

– Most states require you be a citizen of the USMost states require you be a citizen of the US 2. 2. ResidencyResidency

– Must be a legal resident of a StateMust be a legal resident of a State– Each state determines their own minimum Each state determines their own minimum

requirementsrequirements 3. 3. AgeAge

– Minimum is 18 years oldMinimum is 18 years old

Cont.Cont.

Registration Registration Literacy Literacy Poll taxPoll taxMentally Incompetent Mentally Incompetent Felony OffendersFelony Offenders

NonvotersNonvoters

Voter turnout decreases during Voter turnout decreases during – off-year/midterm electionsoff-year/midterm elections (the years in (the years in

which we do not vote for the presidency)which we do not vote for the presidency)

Elections at all levels – most do not Elections at all levels – most do not vote.vote.

Why People Do Not VoteWhy People Do Not Vote

Voting is inconvenient Voting is inconvenient

Political Efficacy- Political Efficacy- Don’t believe their Don’t believe their vote will make a differencevote will make a difference

Distrust politics or politicians Distrust politics or politicians

Characteristics of typical votersCharacteristics of typical voters

EducatedEducated Higher-levels of incomeHigher-levels of income Occupational statusOccupational status Strong sense of party identificationStrong sense of party identification

Voters and Voter BehaviorVoters and Voter Behavior

Voter Behavior is studied in several ways:Voter Behavior is studied in several ways: The results of electionsThe results of elections

– Results of confidential votingResults of confidential voting The field of survey researchThe field of survey research

– Conducting polls across specific cross sections Conducting polls across specific cross sections of the populationof the population

Studies of political socializationStudies of political socialization– The process by which people gain their political The process by which people gain their political

attitudes and opinionsattitudes and opinions

Psychological FactorsPsychological Factors

Party IdentificationParty Identification– Loyalty is the single most significant Loyalty is the single most significant

factor of how a person would votefactor of how a person would vote

Candidates and the IssuesCandidates and the Issues– Short-term factors that can influence a Short-term factors that can influence a

votervoter