1. THE POLITICS OF VOTING CHEVALIER Winter 2014

2. THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUFFRAGE OR FRANCHISE IS A SYNONYM FOR VOTING AND VOTING RIGHTS The electorate in the USA is approximately 216,150,000 This leaves 30% of Americans who can’t vote

3. 5 STAGES OF EXTENDING SUFFRAGE 1. early 1800’s- land requirements were abandoned, religious requirement abolished, by the mid 1800’s all WHITE men could vote 2. 15 th amendment in 1870 gave all men the ability to vote regardless of color

4. 5 Stages of Extending Suffrage 3. 19 th amendment- gave all people (of voting age) right to vote regardless of sex 4. 24 th amendments ended poll taxes 5. 26 th amendment gave 18 year olds the right vote (1971)

5. QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE 1. CITIZENSHIP 2. RESIDENCE 3. REGISTRATION 4. AGE

6. VOTER BEHAVIOR- WHY PEOPLE DON’T VOTE “IDIOT” Voter apathy, ballot fatigue, and time zone fallout Illegal aliens Handicapped (6 million) Traveling Mentally ill (500,000) Jail/religion Political efficacy- believing in influence

7. VOTER BEHAVIOR- WHY DO WE VOTE THE WAY WE DO? Political Socialization- the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions. So, what affects it:

8. Voter Behavior A voter’s personal characteristics: – Age – Race – Income – Occupation – Gender – Education – religion

9. HOW DIFFERENT GROUPS TEND TO VOTE Catholics and Jews- democratic Protestants- republican African Americans- democratic Latinos- democratic Cuban Americans- republican Mexican Americans- democratic

10. OTHER FACTORS Geographical factors Psychological factors (perception of politics to each voter) – Party identification – Straight-ticket voting – Split-ticket voting – independents

11. THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES IN AMERICA Pure liberals (left) Populists- Constitutional governance, liberty, anti-militarism, bill of rights, de-centralization of power Libertarians- free-market economy, civil liberties and personal freedom, non- intervention, peace, and free trade Pure Conservatives (right)