Voters and Voter Behavior Chapter 6

Sect. 1 Section 1--The Constitution and the Right to Vote  1789 most states restricted the right to vote to white males who owned property. 1 in 15  Today, any adult over 18.  Restrictions on voting removed in five stages.

Sect. 1 Section 1 History of Voting  Early 1800s. Property ownership requirement removed by states.  15 th Amendment (1865). Prohibits voting discrimination based on race. Prohibits voting discrimination based on race. Southern states found many ways around the 15 th amendment. Southern states found many ways around the 15 th amendment. “The First Vote”

Sect. 1 Section 1 History of Voting  19th Amendment (1920) Prohibited voting discrimination based on gender. Many states had already taken this step in state elections.

History of Voting  Civil Rights Movement and Legislation (1960s.) Court decisions, Court decisions, Voting Rights Act and Voting Rights Act and 24th Amendment 24th Amendment  26th Amendment reduced voting age to 18. reduced voting age to 18.

Sect. 1 The Power to Set Voting Qualifications  States have the power to set voting qualification, but are five limitations imposed by the Constitution. Art. I, Sect. 2, Clause 1. Any person who a State allows to vote for members of the most numerous branch of its own legislature must also be allowed to vote for representatives and senators in Congress. Art. I, Sect. 2, Clause 1. Any person who a State allows to vote for members of the most numerous branch of its own legislature must also be allowed to vote for representatives and senators in Congress. Race, prior servitude or color. (15th Amendment) Race, prior servitude or color. (15th Amendment) Gender (19 th Amendment) Gender (19 th Amendment) No state can require the payment of any tax to be eligible to vote (24th Amendment) No state can require the payment of any tax to be eligible to vote (24th Amendment) No one can deprive vote to those over 18 because of age (26 th Amendment) No one can deprive vote to those over 18 because of age (26 th Amendment)

Sect. 2 Section 2--Voter Qualification Among The States  Citizenship Does Const. prohibit non-citizens from voting? Does Const. prohibit non-citizens from voting? No, but all states prohibit them from voting.No, but all states prohibit them from voting.  Residency: Most states require that a person live within the state for at least some period of time. Most states require that a person live within the state for at least some period of time Voting rights act says that 30 days is limit for Pres. elections 1970 Voting rights act says that 30 days is limit for Pres. elections

Sect. 2 Section 2--Voter Qualification Among The States  Residency, cont. Const. Equal Protection Clause limits the length of time that a state can require one to live in state Const. Equal Protection Clause limits the length of time that a state can require one to live in state 30 days is reasonable for state elections, and 90 days is too long (Dunn v. Blumstein)30 days is reasonable for state elections, and 90 days is too long (Dunn v. Blumstein) About half the states require 30 days. In the rest it is shorter.About half the states require 30 days. In the rest it is shorter. Reason for residency requirement? Reason for residency requirement? Definition of “Residency” Definition of “Residency”  Age: Can states reduce age below 18? Can states reduce age below 18?

Sect. 2 Voter Qualification Among The States Registration  Every state but ND requires that voters be registered. Purpose? Purpose?  Name, address, age, length of residence. Also an opportunity to register a party affiliation.  Usually days before an election. Can’t be longer than 30 days.  Stay registered unless move, die or are convicted of a felony.

Sect. 2 Motor Voter Law  1993, National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter Bill) States must offer voter registration to anyone renewing vehicle registration or license. States must offer voter registration to anyone renewing vehicle registration or license. Forms must be available in all public government offices. Forms must be available in all public government offices. states must offer registration by mail. states must offer registration by mail.  Purpose of the Law  Does not appear to have benefited either party  No appreciable increase in voter turnout.

Sect. 2 Other Voting Restrictions  Literacy Tests: Prohibited under the Voting Rights Act of Upheld by Supreme Court. Prohibited under the Voting Rights Act of Upheld by Supreme Court. Before banned, 18 states had them. Before banned, 18 states had them.  Tax Payment: Poll tax prohibited by the 24th Amendment in all federal elections. Poll tax prohibited by the 24th Amendment in all federal elections. Supreme Court eliminated in all state election. Supreme Court eliminated in all state election.  Those Prohibited: In most states those in mental institutions, those in mental institutions, convicted felons convicted felons incompetent incompetent dishonorably discharged. dishonorably discharged.

Section 4: Voter Behavior  In 2004 only 55 percent of those eligible to vote actually did so. And the numbers go down for Congressional elections (50%), and down further for state elections  Voter fatigue  Non-Voting Voters - Ballot Fatigue

Section 4: Voter Behavior Why People Do Not Vote  Cannot Voters: 20%  Actual Non-voters Some are happy with either choice Some are happy with either choice Some not believe in their own political efficacy Some not believe in their own political efficacy Inconvenience of the registration process Inconvenience of the registration process Biggest reason? Biggest reason?

Section 4: Voter Behavior Factors Effecting Turnout  Those more likely to vote are: higher income higher income more education more education higher occupational status higher occupational status integrated into their communities integrated into their communities longer-term residents longer-term residents stronger sense of party stronger sense of party  Those less likely to vote are: younger than 35 younger than 35 unmarried unmarried unskilled unskilled from the south from the south rural rural

Voting and Age

Section 4: Voter Behavior Factors Effecting How Vote  Income-Occupation Voters in the middle to upper incomes tend to be: Voters in the middle to upper incomes tend to be: Republican. More conservative.Republican. More conservative. Voters with lower incomes tend to be: Voters with lower incomes tend to be: Democrats Democrats Professional and business people tend to be Professional and business people tend to be Republican Republican Those who are manual labors or in unions tend to be: Those who are manual labors or in unions tend to be: DemocratsDemocrats

Section 4: Voter Behavior Factors Effecting How Vote  Education More education one has, the more likely to vote republican. More education one has, the more likely to vote republican. Why? Why?  Gender Since 1980, women tend to vote more democratic and men more republican. Gender Gap. Since 1980, women tend to vote more democratic and men more republican. Gender Gap. Why? Why?  Age How does Age affect voting choice? How does Age affect voting choice? Younger voters tend to be more democratic, older more republican. Younger voters tend to be more democratic, older more republican. This is part of a larger phenomena—people get more conservative as they get older.This is part of a larger phenomena—people get more conservative as they get older.

Section 4: Voter Behavior Religious, Ethnic Background  Northern Protestants tend to be Republican. Republican. Bush won 59% of Protestants and 67% of white Protestants. Bush won 59% of Protestants and 67% of white Protestants.  Catholics and Jews are much more likely to be Democrats Democrats Bush 52% of Catholics and 25% of Jews. Bush 52% of Catholics and 25% of Jews.  Non-whites are much more likely to be Democrats. Democrats. Blacks vote in overwhelming majorities for the democrats. Blacks vote in overwhelming majorities for the democrats. Partly because average income is lower. Partly because Democrats have led more on Civil Rights issues. Partly because average income is lower. Partly because Democrats have led more on Civil Rights issues. Getting Blacks to vote is often a key to Democratic success. Getting Blacks to vote is often a key to Democratic success.

Section 4: Voter Behavior Geography  Where one lives effects voter behavior.  Solid South. After Civil War and until 1980s, south was solidly Democratic, but no longer. Now is solidly Republican on national level.

Geography  Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotas, Vermont and Maine very consistently Rep. Rep.  Big cities tend to be more Democratic more Democratic  Suburbs tend toward Republican. Republican.  East Coast and West Coast Democratic. Democratic.  Small cities and rural areas tend to be Rep. Rep.

Geography and Voting Behavior

Section 4: Voter Behavior Family  Family and other affiliations 90% of spouses have similar ideological affiliations 90% of spouses have similar ideological affiliations 2/3 vote the way their parents do 2/3 vote the way their parents do

Psychological Factors That Affect Voter Choice  Party Identification: One’s loyalty to a particular party. Best predictor of voter behavior Best predictor of voter behavior Straight-ticket voting—Process of voting for all candidates of a particular party or voting for a candidate simply because he is of your party. Straight-ticket voting—Process of voting for all candidates of a particular party or voting for a candidate simply because he is of your party.

Psychological Factors Independents  Those without a party affiliation.  Party loyalty has weakened over the past 30 years.  More split-ticket voting.  Quarter to a third of the electorate consider themselves independents.  Most independents less informed less interested and less likely to vote.  New Independents. Emerged in 1960s and 1970s. More informed and better educated. Often young professionals. Avoid party label, but act just like party members when they vote. Avoid party label, but act just like party members when they vote.

Psychological Factors Candidates and Issues  Short-term factors can cause people to vote against their party affiliation.  Personality of the candidate  Candidate too extreme  Who the incumbent is  Sense that a change is needed  National crisis

Presidential Vote by Party. Source: Data obtained from CQ Voting and Elections Collections, at library.cqpress.com/elections/.

Affiliation by Demographic