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.