1. Voters & Voter Behavior

2. Voting Rights Large struggle for voting rights to be secured
Of the 215 million people (18-24) that can vote – only 42% voted in 2004
Extension of Rights
There are 5 distinct stages which caused this to occur
Elimination of religious qualifications in 17th & 18th century
15th amendment eliminated voting based on color – intended to protect voters
19th amendment prohibited voting based on sex – expanded voters rights
Voting rights Act of 1965 broader electoral civil rights process
Elimination of poll taxes
Elimination of age restriction – 18 or older vote

3. Voting Rights Constitution does not grant voter qualifications
Power is reserved for the states
No state can deprived people of voting; all may vote
No rights to vote can be issued based off race, religion, color, servitude, age, or sex.
No tax conditions connected to voting
Voter qualifications (Universal)
Three qualifications
Citizen of the nation
Very few states allow aliens to vote
Minnesota & Pennsylvania allow voting
Though the constitution doesn’t stipulate against it

4. Voter Rights Voter Qualifications Resident of the state you reside in
Two reasons:
Keep away political machines – bribing outsiders
Allow familiarity with candidates & issues
There are transient laws – those who live in state for short time
College students cannot live in states where they go to school.
You meat the age requirement
18-20 yr old groups have been typically week group of voters – less than 60%
Forty-nine states require registration
Eliminate voter registration?
It is a impediment to voting;
U.S. is the only state that allows choice in the registering to vote
Motor-voter law
What you won’t find
Literacy laws or tax payment laws

5. Voting Rights Idiots in the U.S.? No! ;-) Why people don’t vote
million voters – 56% voted
The lower the ballot box = few numbers of voters
Why people don’t vote
Takes more time to go to video store than to vote
Cannot – voters
Voters who are illegal – thus can’t vote
10 million
Traveling voters – 2-3 million
Ill voters – 5-6 million
“We make no difference”
Like democrats in Idaho
Alienated population

6. Voter Rights Voter Apathy Non-integrated High voter turn out
Cumbersome election process
Lack of interest
“Time-zone” fallout
Non-integrated
Lower incomes; lower education; disenfranchised
Younger age; unmarried; unskilled; live in rural areas
High voter turn out
High levels of education & occupations
High incomes
Party identification & party preliminaries matter
Religious affiliations influence voter turnout