American Government - Voting and Elections | Education

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Study GuideAmerican Government–VoƟng and ElecƟons1.The Right to VoteIn a democratic society, voting is both aright and a responsibility. Each citizen’s vote carries equalweight, regardless of wealth or social status. The right to vote—also calledsuffrageor thefranchise—is the power to choose who governs. Although this right is fundamental today, manyAmericans were historically excluded from voting, and even now voter participation has declinedsignificantly since 1960.1.1Early VoƟng RestricƟonsUnder the Constitution, thestatesoriginally set voter qualifications. In the late 18th century, votingwas limited by the belief that only well-educated men of property could make sound politicaldecisions. As a result:•Onlywhite male property ownerscould vote•Poor white men, women, and enslaved peoplewere excluded1.2Universal Manhood SuffrageThe first major expansion of voting rights occurred during the1820s and 1830s, a period known astheAge of the Common Manor theAge of Jackson. During this time:•Property ownership requirements were eliminated in many states•Religious tests that excluded Catholics and Jews were removedThis led to what was calleduniversal manhood suffrage, though the term is misleading becauseAfrican Americans were still denied the vote in most states.1.3Expansion Through ConsƟtuƟonal AmendmentsSignificant expansions of voting rights came through constitutional amendments:•Fifteenth Amendment (1870):Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, orprevious condition of servitude

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Study Guide•Nineteenth Amendment (1920):Granted women the right to vote, following decades ofactivism by leaders such asSusan B. AnthonyandElizabeth Cady Stanton•Twenty-sixth Amendment (1971):Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, influenced by theVietnam War and the belief that those old enough to fight should be old enough to voteBefore this amendment,Georgiawas the only state that allowed 18-year-olds to vote.ConclusionThe right to vote in the United States expanded gradually through social movements, state reforms,and constitutional amendments. While formal barriers to voting have been removed,declining voterparticipationremains a challenge, reminding citizens that democracy depends not only on the rightto vote but also on the willingness to exercise it.2.Obstacles to VoƟngEven after theexpansion of suffrage, many Americans—especiallyAfrican Americans—continuedto face serious barriers to voting. Although theFifteenth Amendmentprohibited denying the votebased on race, states retained the power to setvoter registration procedures, which allowed themto restrict voting indirectly.2.1Historical Barriers to African American VoƟngPoll TaxesSouthern states required citizens to pay a fee before voting. In some cases, unpaid taxesaccumulated from one election to the next.•Effect: Disenfranchised poor African Americans and poor whites•Ended by:Twenty-fourth Amendment (1964)Literacy TestsApplicants were required to demonstrate reading ability.•African Americans were often forced to interpret complex constitutional passages•White voters were given much simpler testsThese tests were administered discriminatorily to prevent African Americans from registering.

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Study GuideGood-Character TestsAfrican Americans had to obtain endorsements from registered voters verifying their “good character,”a requirement rarely applied to whites.Grandfather ClausesVoters had to prove that their father or grandfather had voted in the past.•Since most African Americans’ ancestors had been enslaved and denied the vote, this ruleeffectively excluded them.Residency RequirementsVoters had to live in a community for a specified period.•This disproportionately affected African Americans who worked asmigrant or farm laborersand moved frequently.2.2Other Groups Affected by VoƟng RestricƟons•Native Americansgained the right to vote in1924, when Congress granted them U.S.citizenship.•Asian immigrantswere denied citizenship—and thus voting rights—by 19th-century lawsuntil Congress repealed those restrictions in1952.2.3Modern Obstacles to VoƟngAlthough overt racial barriers have been abolished,practical obstacles still exist:•Voter registration requirementscan exclude the homeless, who lack a permanent address.•College studentsmay be required to vote by absentee ballot in their home states.•High mobilitymeans many Americans fail to re-register after moving.•For some, voting feels inconvenient or burdensome, reducing participation.ConclusionWhile legal barriers to voting have largely been removed,structural and logistical challengescontinue to limit full participation in elections.

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Study Guide3.Voter Turnout in the United StatesVoter participation in the U.S. is relatively low compared with other democracies. Turnout variesdepending on the type of election, registration requirements, and voter demographics.3.1Levels of ParƟcipaƟon•Presidential electionsgenerally attract the highest turnout.oExample:2004 election–just over55%of eligible voters participated (the highest innearly 30 years).•Midterm electionssee significantly lower turnout: often around35%, and local/stateelections can be even lower.•The U.S. ranksnear the bottom worldwidein voter participation.3.2The Process of RegisteringVoting in the U.S. is atwo-step process:1.RegistrationoVoter must first register before casting a ballot.oChallenges:•Requires taking time off work•Finding the registration location•Meeting deadlines, which can be missed if registration drives occur too closeto the electionoExceptions and improvements:•Some states allow same-day registration•North Dakotarequires no registration•Motor-Voter Law (1993): allows registration when adults obtain or renewdrivers’ licensesoFrequent movers (students, soldiers, homeless) still face barriers and vote at lowerrates.

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