Civics 101           

Voting

  • Voting Rights
    • Voting is an essential part of a democracy
    • Suffrage = the right to vote
    • Disenfranchise = prevent people from voting
    • Throughout U.S. history, more citizens have gained voting rights
    • U.S. Constitutional amendments dealing with voting rights:
      • 15th Amendment = a citizen of any race can vote
      • 17th Amendment = citizens directly vote for their U.S. senators
      • 19th Amendment = women can vote
      • 23rd Amendment = citizens in Washington, D.C. can vote in presidential elections
      • 24th Amendment = prohibits a poll tax (a fee to vote)
      • 26th Amendment = citizens can vote at age 18
    • Major U.S. laws related to voting rights:
      • Congressional Act of 1924 = gave all Native Americans citizenship (and therefore voting rights)
      • Civil Rights Act of 1957 = gave the Department of Justice the right to sue states to protect voting rights
      • Civil Rights Act of 1960 = created penalties for anyone who obstructs someone’s voting rights
      • Voting Rights Act of 1965 = banned literacy tests and created federal voter registrars in seven southern states
        • The federal government could register voters, watch polls on election day, and approve/disapprove state voting laws/procedures
      • Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1970 = lowered the voting age to 18 in federal elections
      • Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975 = literacy tests were banned and bilingual ballots became required in certain locales
      • Voting Rights Language Assistance Act of 1992 = extended the use of bilingual ballots and voting assistance
      • National Voter Registration Act of 1993 = Made it easier to register to vote and maintain registration
        • The government must offer the opportunity to register when dealing with a government office handling driver’s license, public assistance, and disability programs
        • Also called the “Motor-Voter Law”
      • Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 = banned tests to deny the right to vote and mandated voting materials be in multiple languages
    • Major Supreme Court cases related to voting rights:
      • Guinn v. United States (1915) = declared a grandfather clause unconstitutional
        • Grandfather clause = provision some states created to prevent African Americans from voting despite the adoption of the 15th Amendment – said only citizens whose grandfathers had voted prior to 1867 could vote without needing to pay a tax or pass a test
      • Smith v. Allwright (1944) = citizens of any race can participate in primary elections
      • Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966) = poll taxes are prohibited in state elections
      • Shelby Co. v. Holder (2013) = overturned parts of the Voting Rights Act – threw out the existing way states and localities were identified as needing their elections laws/procedures reviewed by the federal government and said Congress needed to make a new determination
    • U.S. voting rights restrictions:
      • Citizens only (natural-born or naturalized)
      • Adults only (age 18+)
      • States can take voting rights away from people imprisoned, convicted of felonies, or with certain mental illnesses
 
  • The Voting Process in the U.S.
    • Registration
      • States require citizens to register to vote
        • Some require registration before election day
          • Ex: Pennsylvania requires registration 30 days before
        • Some allow registration on election day
          • Ex: Minnesota
        • North Dakota does not require registration
      • The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 has made it easier to register to vote
      • Citizens may register as a member of a political party or as independent (not in a party)
        • Some states only allow party members to vote in a party’s primary election (closed primary)
    • Preparation
      • Voters should gather information about the issues and candidates
        • Sources of info: candidate speeches, news-media outlets, debates, campaign ads, etc.
      • Voters need to discern factual information from misleading information, biased information, and lies
      • Voters select a candidate that best matches his/her priorities
        • This can include:
          • The candidate who supports the most issues a voter cares about
          • The candidate who supports the most important issue for a voter
          • The candidate who has the most experience
          • The candidate who has the best character
          • The candidate who has the best chance of winning
          • The candidate who will keep the status quo or bring the most change
        • It is highly unlikely any candidate will be a perfect fit in all areas; the only candidate who is perfect for you is you
    • Voting
      • States determine how voting will occur: voting hours, design of ballot, paper vs. electronic, in-person vs. online vs. mail-in, etc.
        • Some states allow for early voting (voting prior to election day)
        • States allow for absentee voting for citizens who cannot go to their polling place on election day
          • Some states require a reason while others allow anyone to obtain an absentee ballot
      • Ballot = the list of candidates and/or issues being voted on
      • Polling place = the voting location
        • Often in public buildings such as a school, fire station, community center
        • Each precinct (voting district) has a polling place
        • Voting procedures vary by state and by precinct
          • A voter may be required to sign his/her name and/or show identification
          • People have a right to assistance for issues involving language difficulties, disabilities, etc.
      • Voting is by secret ballot
      • After the polls close, each polling place reports the results and sends the ballots to the canvassing board
        • Canvassing board = official government group that counts the votes and certifies the results
 
  • Voter Participation
    • Voting gives a citizen the chance to influence the political process; not voting reduces or eliminates a citizen’s influence
      • Voter efficacy = a citizen believing his/her vote has influence
      • Voter apathy = lack of interest in voting
    • Voter turnout rate = the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote
    • Key factors influencing voting decisions:
      • Voter’s background – a voter’s personal background influences who a voter will vote for (and if a voter will vote), including characteristics such as: age, family, race, ethnicity, location, job, income, interests, peer group, etc.
      • Party loyalty – some voters stick with their party and vote “straight party ticket” while other voters who identify less strongly with a party or as independent change the party they vote for based on the candidates and issues in an election
      • Candidate characteristics – a voter considers a candidate’s qualifications, level of experience, personal history, charisma, trustworthiness, etc.
      • Major issues – a voter considers which issues are most important in an election, which issues impact him/her the most, etc.
    • Reasons people do not vote:
      • Not registered
      • Work (election day is not a holiday)
      • Illness or disability
      • Lack of transportation to a polling place
      • Satisfied with the status quo
      • Uninformed
      • Alienation – feeling separate from the process due to political corruption, dominance of special interests, unresponsive politicians, etc.
    • Demographics of citizens most likely to vote:
      • Age 30+
      • White and African American
      • Higher socioeconomic status and high wealth
      • College educated
      • Strong party supporters (of any political party)
      • High efficacy
      • High news consumers
    • Demographic of citizens least likely to vote:
      • 18 – 29 year olds
      • Hispanic and Asian American
      • Low income
      • High school dropout
      • Independent (do not identify with a party)
      • Low efficacy
    • Factors leading to the highest voter turnout:
      • A presidential election year (lower in “off year” and “midterm” elections)
      • A general election (lower in a primary election)
      • An election that is very competitive
      • Polling place are conveniently located
      • Short wait time at polling places
      • Minimal voter ID requirements
      • Same-day voter registration is possible
      • Early voting is possible
    • Voting participation stats among eligible voters:
      • In presidential elections:
        • 1964 = 69% participation
        • 2012 = 56% participation
      • In midterm elections:
        • 2014 midterms = 37% participation 
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