Aim:Aim: How have voting How have voting rights expanded over time?rights expanded over time?

Do Now:Do Now: How many pieces of How many pieces of legislation can you name that legislation can you name that have expanded voting rights?have expanded voting rights?

I. NonvotingI. Nonvoting

A.A. About only half of Americans voteAbout only half of Americans vote

B.B. The U.S. is ranked near the bottom The U.S. is ranked near the bottom in comparison to other democratic in comparison to other democratic nations in voter turnoutnations in voter turnout

1.1. If one counts only registered voters in If one counts only registered voters in the U.S., we are in the middle the U.S., we are in the middle

2.2. A low percentage of Americans are A low percentage of Americans are registered to voteregistered to vote

II. Voting RightsII. Voting Rights

A.A. In the early Republic, only white, male, In the early Republic, only white, male, citizens, over the age of 21, who were citizens, over the age of 21, who were property holders could vote property holders could vote

1.1. Property requirements were eliminated Property requirements were eliminated during the Jacksonian Eraduring the Jacksonian Era

2.2. Americans voted directly only for members of Americans voted directly only for members of the Housethe House

B.B. 1515thth Amendment (1870): Amendment (1870): Expanded Expanded voting rights to include African American voting rights to include African American malesmales

1. African Americans were still excluded through 1. African Americans were still excluded through the use of:the use of:

a.a. Poll Tax:Poll Tax: a requirement that citizens had a requirement that citizens had to pay a tax in order to register to voteto pay a tax in order to register to vote

b.b. Literacy Test:Literacy Test: a requirement that a requirement that citizens show that they can read before citizens show that they can read before registering to voteregistering to vote

c.c. White Primary:White Primary: practice of keeping practice of keeping blacks from voting in Southern state blacks from voting in Southern state primaries through arbitrary use of primaries through arbitrary use of registration requirements and intimidationregistration requirements and intimidation

d.d. Grandfather Clause:Grandfather Clause: allowed people to allowed people to vote who did not meet registration vote who did not meet registration requirements to bypass the literacy test requirements to bypass the literacy test and poll tax if their grandfathers had and poll tax if their grandfathers had voted prior to 1867 (whites) voted prior to 1867 (whites)

C. C. 1717thth Amendment Amendment (1913): Provided for direct (1913): Provided for direct election of senatorselection of senators

D. D. 1919thth Amendment Amendment (1920): Granted women the (1920): Granted women the right to voteright to vote

E. E. Native American Citizenship ActNative American Citizenship Act (1924): (1924): Granted Native Americans citizenship and the Granted Native Americans citizenship and the right to vote.right to vote.1. some states continued to restrict Native 1. some states continued to restrict Native American voting rights until 1957American voting rights until 1957

F. F. 2424thth Amendment Amendment (1964): Ended the use of poll (1964): Ended the use of poll taxes.taxes.

G. G. Voting Rights ActVoting Rights Act (1965): Ended the Use of (1965): Ended the Use of Literacy TestsLiteracy Tests

H. H. Voting Rights ActVoting Rights Act (1970): Extended the ban on (1970): Extended the ban on literacy tests for five years (renewed in 1975, literacy tests for five years (renewed in 1975, 1982, and 2006). Granted 18 year olds the right 1982, and 2006). Granted 18 year olds the right to vote in Federal Elections.to vote in Federal Elections.

I. I. 2626thth Amendment Amendment (1971): Granted voting rights (1971): Granted voting rights to 18 year old citizens.to 18 year old citizens.

Questions:Questions:

1.1. Based on what we have seen, explain Based on what we have seen, explain the meaning of this statement: the meaning of this statement: “Democracy is a process.”“Democracy is a process.”

2.2. What do you see for the future of What do you see for the future of voting rights in this country? Should voting rights in this country? Should or could these rights be expanded or could these rights be expanded further, should they remain the same, further, should they remain the same, or should they be restricted? Explain.or should they be restricted? Explain.