The Importance of The Importance of VotingVoting

The Right to VoteThe Right to Vote History of Suffrage in U.S. (Who could vote History of Suffrage in U.S. (Who could vote

at the time and how did suffrage change?)at the time and how did suffrage change?)– 17891789-white, male property owners-white, male property owners– 1800’s1800’s-religious restrictions removed-religious restrictions removed– Mid 1800’s-Mid 1800’s- elimination of property ownership elimination of property ownership

& tax payments& tax payments– After Civil War-After Civil War- 15 15thth amendment (race and amendment (race and

color removed)color removed)– 19201920- 19- 19thth amendment allowed women to vote amendment allowed women to vote– 1960’s1960’s- Vote Rights Act passed to ensure racial - Vote Rights Act passed to ensure racial

equality at the pollsequality at the polls– 19711971- 18 year olds allowed vote 26- 18 year olds allowed vote 26thth

amendmentamendment

The Right to VoteThe Right to Vote Power to Set Voting Qualifications Power Power to Set Voting Qualifications Power

“reserved” to States (5 Restrictions of set “reserved” to States (5 Restrictions of set by the Constitution)by the Constitution)– Anyone allowed to vote for “most numerous” Anyone allowed to vote for “most numerous”

office of state legislature allowed to vote for office of state legislature allowed to vote for representatives of Congressrepresentatives of Congress

– States can’t deny a voter because of “race, States can’t deny a voter because of “race, color, or former servitudecolor, or former servitude

– Can’t be deprived right to vote because genderCan’t be deprived right to vote because gender– Can’t be required to pay a taxCan’t be required to pay a tax– Can’t be denied the right to vote as long as Can’t be denied the right to vote as long as

eighteen or oldereighteen or older

Voter Qualifications Among the StatesVoter Qualifications Among the States CitizenshipCitizenship-nothing in Constitution denies aliens -nothing in Constitution denies aliens

the right to votethe right to vote– Minnesota is the only state that requires that you can be Minnesota is the only state that requires that you can be

a citizen for 3 monthsa citizen for 3 months– Confused aliens may register and voteConfused aliens may register and vote

ResidenceResidence-usually required to live in a state for -usually required to live in a state for a certain period of timea certain period of time– Stops political machines from recruiting outsiders to Stops political machines from recruiting outsiders to

affect local elections (“vote now-vote often”)affect local elections (“vote now-vote often”)– Gives people time to become familiar with local Gives people time to become familiar with local

candidates and issuescandidates and issues– Length of residency requirement-average residence is Length of residency requirement-average residence is

30 days, some shorter/ S.C. prohibited transients (armed 30 days, some shorter/ S.C. prohibited transients (armed forces, students, traveling salesman) from gaining legal forces, students, traveling salesman) from gaining legal residenceresidence

Voter Qualifications Among the StatesVoter Qualifications Among the States

Age-Age-2626thth amendment amendment– 18 years of age-changed because of Vietnam War18 years of age-changed because of Vietnam War– 17 year olds can vote in primary if they will be 18 by 17 year olds can vote in primary if they will be 18 by

general election of that year in some statesgeneral election of that year in some states Other QualificationsOther Qualifications

– Registration-process that identifies voters and prevents Registration-process that identifies voters and prevents voter fraudvoter fraud

– Must give name, address, and length of residencyMust give name, address, and length of residency– Computers (Electronic Voting Machines-still could Computers (Electronic Voting Machines-still could

produce fraud if no written notification is given)produce fraud if no written notification is given) RegistrationRegistration

– Motor-voter Law (1993)Motor-voter Law (1993)– Register by mailRegister by mail– Forms are made available at employment, welfare, and Forms are made available at employment, welfare, and

social services officessocial services offices

Voter Qualifications Among the StatesVoter Qualifications Among the States Literacy requirementLiteracy requirement

– Used to determine capacity to cast an Used to determine capacity to cast an informal voteinformal vote

– Used to prevent certain groups from Used to prevent certain groups from voting—whites didn’t have to take a testvoting—whites didn’t have to take a test

– Voting Rights Act (1970)-S.C. literacy Voting Rights Act (1970)-S.C. literacy test in which blacks interpret the test in which blacks interpret the constitution in Oregon v Mitchellconstitution in Oregon v Mitchell

Tax PaymentTax Payment– Poll tax-discouraged African Americans Poll tax-discouraged African Americans

from votingfrom voting– 2424thth amendment outlawed poll tax amendment outlawed poll tax

Voter Qualifications Among the StatesVoter Qualifications Among the States

Who Can’t Vote?Who Can’t Vote?– Those in mental hospitalsThose in mental hospitals– Mentally incompetentMentally incompetent– Those convicted of serious crimes/felons Those convicted of serious crimes/felons

(this law might change in MD)(this law might change in MD)– Dishonorable dischargedDishonorable discharged– homelesshomeless

ParticipationParticipation InactiveInactive

– 1/5 th of the population does not participate in 1/5 th of the population does not participate in any wayany way

They do not vote or talk about politicsThey do not vote or talk about politicsTypically little education, low income and Typically little education, low income and

youngyoung Voting SpecialistsVoting Specialists

– These individuals vote but do not participate in These individuals vote but do not participate in any other mannerany other manner

– Typically older and have little educationTypically older and have little education CampaignersCampaigners

– They vote and get and enjoy working on They vote and get and enjoy working on political campaignspolitical campaigns

– Have more than average education, tend to Have more than average education, tend to engage in political controversy, and have a engage in political controversy, and have a strong identification with a particular political strong identification with a particular political partyparty

ParticipationParticipation CommunalistsCommunalists

– Have more than average education, tend to Have more than average education, tend to engage in political controversy, feel strongly engage in political controversy, feel strongly connected to the community and engage in connected to the community and engage in community based activities and contact local community based activities and contact local officialsofficials

ParochialsParochials– Do not participate in campaigns but contact Do not participate in campaigns but contact

officials with problems or issuesofficials with problems or issues ActivistsActivists

– Consists of 1/9Consists of 1/9thth of the population of the population– Are highly educated, have high incomes, and a Are highly educated, have high incomes, and a

tendency to be middle agedtendency to be middle aged– They participate in all forms of politicsThey participate in all forms of politics

Groups of ParticipationGroups of Participation ConventionalConventional

– Widely accepted modes Widely accepted modes of actionof action

VotingVoting Trying to persuade Trying to persuade

othersothers PetitioningPetitioning Money to campaignsMoney to campaigns Running for officeRunning for office

Although voting trends Although voting trends have swung back and have swung back and forth and recently forth and recently have been on the have been on the decline these other decline these other conventional forms conventional forms are on the riseare on the rise

UnconventionalUnconventional– Dramatic activitiesDramatic activities

ProtestingProtesting Civil disobedienceCivil disobedience More violent actsMore violent acts

Although often Although often controversial forms it controversial forms it often attracts media often attracts media attention and has attention and has been successfully been successfully used to influence gov’t used to influence gov’t policy especially policy especially during the civil rights during the civil rights movement of the movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s 1950’s and 1960’s (civil disobedience)(civil disobedience)

NonvotingNonvoting

Size of ProblemSize of Problem– 196 million eligible to vote (1996), only 196 million eligible to vote (1996), only

96 million voted in that Presidential 96 million voted in that Presidential electionelection

– 81 million cast vote in “off year” 81 million cast vote in “off year” election for House of election for House of representatives/state representativesrepresentatives/state representatives

– Even more common in local electionsEven more common in local elections– More people vote in general elections More people vote in general elections

than in primariesthan in primaries

NonvotingNonvoting Why People Don’t VoteWhy People Don’t Vote

– Cannot VoteCannot Vote 6 million are resident aliens6 million are resident aliens Illness/physically impairedIllness/physically impaired Traveling unexpectedlyTraveling unexpectedly Mental conditionMental condition JailedJailed Religious reasonsReligious reasons RaceRace

– Actual Nonvoters-purposely refrain from Actual Nonvoters-purposely refrain from votingvoting

Satisfied with system and don't want to changeSatisfied with system and don't want to change Distrust of politicians (political efficacy)Distrust of politicians (political efficacy) Squeezed out of process/poorSqueezed out of process/poor Cumbersome process of registrationCumbersome process of registration Time zone fallout (media announces winner on east Time zone fallout (media announces winner on east

coast)coast) Lack of interestLack of interest

NonvotingNonvoting

Factors Affecting TurnoutFactors Affecting Turnout– IncomeIncome– EducationEducation– OccupationOccupation– Integration into communityIntegration into community– Political identificationPolitical identification– Believe voting is an important actBelieve voting is an important act

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior Study of Voter BehaviorStudy of Voter Behavior

– 3 sources that have been studied3 sources that have been studiedElection resultsElection resultsSurvey researchSurvey researchPolitical; socializationPolitical; socialization

– Factors that influenceFactors that influencePersonal characteristics (age, race, income, Personal characteristics (age, race, income,

occupation, education, and religion)occupation, education, and religion)Affiliation-family, co-workers, friends (Family Affiliation-family, co-workers, friends (Family

11stst influence) influence)Voter’s perception of politicsVoter’s perception of politics

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior

– Sociological FactorsSociological Factors Income/occupation middle to upper class Income/occupation middle to upper class

(Rep)/lower income (Dem)(Rep)/lower income (Dem)Education-close relationship between Education-close relationship between

education and voting (college grads vote education and voting (college grads vote more republican than H.S. grads, while H.S. more republican than H.S. grads, while H.S. grads vote more Rep than those who don’t grads vote more Rep than those who don’t finishfinish

Age & gender-these groups differ on Age & gender-these groups differ on response to war, gender gap created in response to war, gender gap created in 1980’s, younger the voter the more they 1980’s, younger the voter the more they vote Democratic usuallyvote Democratic usually

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior– GeographyGeography

After Civil War-south became the solid south and After Civil War-south became the solid south and voted Dem. (radical Republicans/Blacks-Republican voted Dem. (radical Republicans/Blacks-Republican until FDRuntil FDR

In past 30 years South votes more rep.In past 30 years South votes more rep. Rep. get more support from Northeast (main & Rep. get more support from Northeast (main &

Vermont), as does Midwest (Kansas, Nebraska, an Vermont), as does Midwest (Kansas, Nebraska, an Dakotas)Dakotas)

Dem. Hold more of the cities of Northeast & rep. Hold Dem. Hold more of the cities of Northeast & rep. Hold more Dem. Of the suburban votemore Dem. Of the suburban vote

Religion Protestants vote more Rep., while Catholics Religion Protestants vote more Rep., while Catholics vote more Dem.vote more Dem.

Ethnic interests-until 1930’s African Americans voter Ethnic interests-until 1930’s African Americans voter rep. in northern cities, after that they tended to vote rep. in northern cities, after that they tended to vote more Dem. (Hispanics tend to vote more Dem., but more Dem. (Hispanics tend to vote more Dem., but Cubans vote more Rep.-Professionals (Conservative) Cubans vote more Rep.-Professionals (Conservative) left Cubaleft Cuba

Voter BehaviorVoter Behavior

– Psychological factors-voter’s perception of politicsPsychological factors-voter’s perception of politics Party IdentificationParty Identification

– Identify with one party in every election (straight Identify with one party in every election (straight ticket voting)ticket voting)

– Split-ticket voting (vote for candidates of more Split-ticket voting (vote for candidates of more than one party in same election)than one party in same election)

– Independent-no party affiliationIndependent-no party affiliation– Short-term Factors issues and candidatesShort-term Factors issues and candidates

Most voters identify with one party or anotherMost voters identify with one party or another Don’t always vote that wayDon’t always vote that way One issue may sway the change for that electionOne issue may sway the change for that election Issue or candidateIssue or candidate