To the Polls! A Presentation on Voting in America

Some Words To Know Suffrage-The right to vote Franchise-The Right to Vote Enfranchisement-The process of bestowing the right to vote. The original framers let states set the requirements for who could vote. Today states are still in charge of registering voters and running elections.

States Cannot Stop People from Voting: Because of their “race, color or previous conditions of servitude.” (15 th Amendment) Because of their gender. (19 th Amendment) Based on their age if they are 18 or older. (26 th Amendment) By creating a poll tax that must be paid to be eligible to vote (24 th Amendment).

Qualifications to Register to Vote in Virginia Registration-The process of enrolling with the appropriate local government office so you can vote Citizen of the United States Resident of Virginia and precinct. Transients are not allowed to vote. You must be 18 or older. In Virginia you can register when you are 17.

How to Register in Virginia In person at the Registrar’s Office Department of Motor Vehicles Mail Application * Registration is closed 29 days before election * When you register you can choose to include your political party preference.

Who Can’t Vote? Anyone in a mental institution or declared mentally incompetent. Most states do not allow criminals convicted of felonies to vote. Some states do not allow citizens who have been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces to vote.

Voting on Election Day Citizens vote at their local polling place in their precinct, or geographic voting district. Voters select their choice on a ballot, or the list of candidates running for office. If a voter cannot be there on election day, they can vote with an absentee ballot, a ballot they complete and mail in and it is opened and counted on election day. Election officials release the returns, or the results of the election once votes are counted. The media tries to determine who won before the returns are announced by using exit polls.

Who is Most Likely to Vote? Education Age Income

Who Votes and Who Doesn’t? PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO VOTE High Income Higher Education Higher Occupation Status. Positive attitude towards government Live in areas with a lot of political competition Women PEOPLE MOST LIKELY NOT TO VOTE Young people (under 35) Unmarried Unskilled Those living in the South and in rural areas Men

The Challenge of Voter Apathy The United States has one of the lowest voter turnouts in any democratic country. Only 51% of registered voters took part in the 2000 election. Voter turnout is even lower during midterm elections, or elections that occur in years when there is no presidential election.

Why People Don’t Vote Lack of Interest-People do not care Cannot vote for health, criminal, or citizenship reasons. People feel their vote “doesn’t count”. People cannot get to the polls- weather, job demands, forget to register, or long polling lines.