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
- Guinn v. United States (1915) = declared a grandfather clause unconstitutional
- 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
- Some require registration before election day
- 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)
- States require citizens to register to vote
- 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
- This can include:
- Voters should gather information about the issues and candidates
- 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
- States determine how voting will occur: voting hours, design of ballot, paper vs. electronic, in-person vs. online vs. mail-in, etc.
- Registration
- 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
- In presidential elections:
- Voting gives a citizen the chance to influence the political process; not voting reduces or eliminates a citizen’s influence