Voters and Voting Behavior Chapter 6

Voters & Voting Behavior Goals and Objectives: Historical expansion of voting rights. 5 restrictions on States’ power to establish voting qualifications. Voter qualifications by State. Suffrage and Civil Rights by law and constitutional amendment. Voter behavior and factors defining voting behavior.

Southpark Vote or Die

The Right To Vote Extended Suffrage (voting rights) Elimination of Religious & Property requirements for white males. 15th amendment: Post Civil War 19th amendment: Women. Wyoming 1869 1964 Civil Rights Act; 1965 Voting Rights Act 23rd, 24th, 26th amendments

5 Federal or Constitutional Restrictions on States Equal eligibility to vote in all elections: Voting Rights Act of 1965 15th amendment-Race, Color, servitude 19th amendment-Women 24th amendment-No tax 26th amendment-18 years of age

Voter Qualifications Citizenship: Born or Naturalized. Aliens cannot vote (unless they have an ID card or drivers license and register) Minnesota: 3 month waiting period Residence: Requirements tougher in the South. 6 months to 1 year Dunn v. Blumstein: Voting Rights Act, Presidential Elections—Could you vote in two states? Explain How?

Voter Qualifications Age: 26th amendment, 18 year old vote, 17 year olds voting in primaries if they turn 18 before general election. Voter Identification: Voter Registration: Except North Dakota Literacy Requirements: Guinn vs U.S. (1915) Tax Payments: Hill vs. Stone (1975) Texas Persons Denied Right to Vote: Dishonorable discharge Mentally incompetent Felons

Voting Challenges 2014

Voting Challenges 2014

Voter Qualifications

Voter Apathy Why? Religion: Jehvoah’s Witnesses Mistrust of Government: Pentagon Papers, Vietnam, Iraq, etc… Two-Party System: Political Efficacy Gerrymandering

The current fate of preclearance Voting Rights Act of 1965 reversed by U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 Shelby County Alabama vs. Holder 2013 ends preclearance (Section 5 of Voting Rights Act) http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-96_6k47.pdf

Women & Voting

Age & Voting

Voting Behavior

Political Socialization Personal Experiences Relationships Parents Churches School Environment (Success) Group (Social) Group (Economic)

Sociological Factors Republican: Democrat: White males Business Owners Middle Income to Wealthy Professional Employees Protestants, Mormons Traditional Families Retired Investors Solid South, Rural, Burbs Democrat: African Americans & Latinos Labor Unions Poor Government Employees Low Skilled employees Catholics & Jews & Muslims & Atheists Single-Income Parents Big Cites in Northeast, Pacific West

Free Stuff & Voting Behavior

Psychological Factors Party Identification: Loyalty to party platform and politics. (Pocket-bookers) Straight-Ticket Voters Split-Ticket Voters Independents