chapter 6 American Gov

History of Voting Rights

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 defended racial equality in voting. -The 24th Amendment eliminated the poll tax in federal elections. •In 1971 the 26th Amendment gave those 18 and older the right to vote.

Congressional election held in the even years between presidential elections is called

off year election

State of Florida Voter Requirements

- To be able to register to vote in Florida, you must: - Be a U.S. citizen -Be a Florida resident -Be at least 18 years old (you can pre-register to vote at 16 years old, but you'll need to wait until you're 18 years old to vote) -Have never been convicted of a felony (unless your civil rights have been restored) -Have never been legally judged ineligible to vote, for either mental incapacitation or crime

Voting Requirements

-Citizenship is up to each State to decide. -States can also distinguish between native-born and naturalized citizens, requiring that voters become citizens of that State for a minimum period of time before being allowed to vote.

Factors that Influence Voting

-Voters are influenced by sociological factors such as income, occupation, education, gender, age, religion, ethnic background, geography, and family. -Voters are also influenced by psychological factors such as political party identification, specific candidates (personality, charisma, etc.), and key issues.

This amendment gave african american men the right to vote

15th

In the state of florida you can pre-register to vote at the age of

16

The civil rights act of___ created a commission to investigate voter discrimination

1957

Civil rights act of____ allowed referees to help voters who were being discriminated against

1960

Civil rights act of___ outlawed workplace discrimination among other things

1964

Voting Qualifications

26th Amendment, (1971) no State can deprive any person who is at least 18 years of age of the right to vote because of their age. -Vietnam War What else should 18-year-olds be able to do?

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do that previous legislation did not

Apply to all US elections

People who are unable to vote or are prevented from voting is called

Disenfranchisement

Drawing electoral district lines to limit a group's voting strength

Gerrymandering

When someone has an influence on politics we call this

Political efficacy

The right to vote is also called

Suffrage

off-year election

a congressional election held in the even years between presidential elections

injunction

a court order that compels or restrains the performance of some act by a private individual or a public official

poll tax

a fee charged before allowing someone to vote

registration

a method of voter identification intended to prevent fraud

independent

a person with no party affiliation

literacy

a person's ability to read and write

ballot fatigue

a phenomenon that results in fewer votes being cast for offices at the end of an election ballot

franchise

a synonym for the right to vote

The most recent change to voting requirements is the ___ requirement

age

A foreign born resident who has not become a citizen is a

alien

Civil Rights Act of 1960

allowed federal voting referees to help qualified people register and vote in federal elections wherever federal courts found voter discrimination.

A decrease in voting that occurs as voters work through the ballot

ballot fatigue

Who cannot vote in the US

convicted felons

Civil Rights Act of 1957

created the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which investigated voter discrimination.

Evidence of the gender gap would be that more women vote___ than men

democrat

disenfranchised

denied the right to vote

The potential voting population is the

electorate

alien

foreign-born residents who have not become citizens

The difference between the political choices of men and women is called the

gender gap

political efficacy

having an influence on politics

straight ticket voting

he practice of voting for candidates from only one party

Independent voters have___ over the years to include educated, well-informed young people

increased

A court order compelling or restraining a certain action

injunction

The civil rights act of 1964 outlawed___ to vote

literacy requirements

____were used to keep African Americans from voting, despite the 15th Amendment

literacy requirements

Civil Rights Act of 1964

outlawed racial discrimination in job related-matters and banned unfair voter registration practices and literacy requirements. Does not include people over 40, veterans, or the disabled

Political scandals, economic woes & wars may cause voters to vote___ their political party

outside

The most significant and last predictor of how a person will vote is:

party idenification

transients

people who plan to live in a State for only a short time

The feeling of one's ability to influence the political process is called

political efficacy

An official list of qualified voters is a

poll book

Most states have___ requirements before people can vote

residency

The process by which people gain their political opinions is

socialization

The practice of voting for candidates from only one party is called

straight ticket voting

History of Voting Rights

the 15th Amendment (1870) made it illegal to deny any MAN the right to vote based on their race or color. -In theory, this amendment gave African Americans the right to vote. -The spirit of this law was violated for nearly 100 years as African Americans were denied the vote in many places.

gender gap

the difference between the political choices of men and women

party idenification

the loyalty of people to a specific party

poll books

the official lists of qualified voters in each precinct

electorate

the potential voting population

gerrymandering

the practice of drawing electoral district lines in order to limit the voting strength of a particular group or political party

split-ticket voting:

the practice of voting for candidates of more than one party

political socialization

the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

purging

the process of removing the names of voters who are no longer eligible to vote

preclearance

the requirement that all changes to State election laws be approved by the Department of Justice before going into effect

suffrage

the right to vote

A person living in a state for a short period of time is a

transient

General election voter turnout is higher than primary election turnout

true

What should preclearance requirements prevent

unfair changes in voting laws

Sociological Influences

•A majority of the following groups tend to vote Republican: -Voters with higher incomes (such as professional and business people) -Voters with higher levels of education -Older voters (though this has varied in the past 30 years) -Protestants

Sociological Influences

•A majority of the following groups tend to vote for Democrats. -Women (by a 5-10 percent margin) -African Americans (by large margins since the 1930s) -Latinos (this varies among Latino groups) Mexicans are more likely to vote Democrat, Cubans are more likely to vote Republican -Catholics and Jews

Residency

•A person must also be a legal resident of the State in which he or she votes. •In the past, this meant a person had to be a State resident for at least a year to vote in that State. •Due to federal law and a Supreme Court ruling, most States now set no time requirement for legal residency, or have cut it to 30 days. •Transients cannot vote in the State where they are living temporarily. -Voters living outside their State, such as soldiers, can cast absentee ballots in their home State.

Independents

•Estimated that from 1/4 to 1/3 of all voters today are independents. •Independent voters once tended to be less concerned, less informed, and less active in politics than Democrats or Republicans. •In recent years, a rising number of independents are young people with above average levels of education, income, and job status.

Persons Denied to Vote

•Every State denies the right vote to some people -Few States allow people found mentally incompetent to vote -Most States disqualify people convicted of serious crimes from voting, although it is often possible for convicted felons to regain their voting rights -Some States also ban those dishonorably discharged from the armed forces from voting

History of Voting Rights

•In 1920, the ratification of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. -By 1920, more than half the States had already followed the example set by Wyoming in 1869 and given women the vote.

Voter Registration

•The Motor Voter Act requires all States to: -Let eligible citizens register when they apply for or renew a driver's license -Provide voter registration by mail -Make registration forms available at many State offices

Voting Rights Act of 1965

•The Voting Rights Act of 1965 protects African Americans against various tactics intended to prevent them from voting. •It led to State poll taxes being overturned in the federal courts. •This Act applies to all elections: federal, State, and local. -The law has been extended four times and will not expire until 2036

Age

•Under the 26th Amendment, the minimum voting age cannot be older than 18. -Before the passage of this amendment, the minimum age had been 21 in most States. -Some States allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections. •Historically, young voters have been less likely to vote than any other age group of eligible voters.