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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