League of Women Voters
Making Democracy Work
by
Engaging Young Voters
We Want to Introduce You To
League of Women Voters
History of voting in America
Voting resources
The League of Women Voters
Our mission is to encourage informed and active participation in
government, increase understanding of major public policy
issues, and to influence public policy through education and
advocacy.
Created in 1920
Grassroots
Volunteer-Lead
Non-Partisan
Political
Open to Everyone
1789, the U.S. Constitution Is Ratified
While the U.S. Constitution established a representative
democracy, it left the determination of who could vote to the
states.
Who can vote?
White men
Age 21+
Who own land
1820’s Jacksonian Democracy
During the first decades of the republic, the franchise was
extended in most states to include all white men.
Who can vote?
White men
Age 21+
1870, 15th Amendment
After the American Civil War and the Emancipation
Proclamation, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
granted suffrage to African-American men.
Who can vote?
Men
age 21+
1920, 19th Amendment
Although women had gained the right to vote in several
states, the federal woman suffrage amendment was ratified
in 1920.
Who can vote?
White men and women
Age 21+
1965, Voting Rights Act
A significant accomplishment of the Civil Rights Movement
was the dismantling of the Jim Crow system that had
suppressed the African-American vote. The Voting Rights
Act barred discrimination in voting on the basis of race,
language, or minority status.
Who can vote?
Men and women
Age 21+
1876-1965, Jim Crow Laws
Fearing an enfranchised African-American population, many
southern states (including Florida) instituted new laws that
suppressed their votes for decades. Examples include:
Literacy tests
Poll taxes
White primaries
Who can vote?
White men
age 21+
1971, 26th Amendment
One of the major tenets of the Youth Movement of the
1960’s was that it was unlawful to send young men off to
the Vietnam War when they were too young to vote. As a
result, the voting age was dropped to 18.
Who can vote?
Men and women
Age 18+
The New Jim Crow:
Felon Voter Rights Restoration
Even after serving their sentences not all felons
have their voting rights restored.
22 states restore voter rights immediately
2 states allow felons to vote in prison
Florida has the harshest rules of any state:
25% of disenfranchised felons are in Florida
10% of Florida’s voting age population
20% of Florida’s African Americans
Voter Suppression
Voter suppression strategies
influence elections by discouraging
or preventing people from voting.
Current examples:
Restricted voter registration drives
Limited early voting locations and times
Eligibility requirements
Photo ID restrictions
Name change
Address change
Signature match
Election Day at USF’s Marshall Center
Young voters were excited about the presidential
election in 2008 and waited in long lines to vote.
Voter Suppression
The University of Florida in Gainesville was recently denied
the right to use their student center as an early voting
location, though it has been used for elections in previous
years. Now, the nearest venue for UF students is five miles
away.
Issues That Affect You
Tuition increases, Bright Futures, and Pell Grants
Mass transit
Internet regulation/censorship
Government Surveillance
Marriage equality
Reproductive rights
Healthcare benefits and access to medical marijuana
Animal rights
Environmental safety and preservation
Minimum wage
Are You a “Bystander”?
Who Are America’s Most Politically
Disengaged?
Percent Ages 18+ who say they are…
“Bystanders” are not registered to
vote, say they seldom or never vote
and do not follow government and
public affairs most of the time.
Source: 2014 Political Typology
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Youth Undervote in Florida
In 2010 17% of the Florida population was over the age of 65, while 9.3%
of the Florida population was between the ages of 18 and 25.
But the voter turnout of seniors regularly exceeds 75%, while for those
under 25, it is only 25%.
The result is that seniors often cast more than 1/3 of the votes in statewide elections and up to 1/2 in off-year, local elections.
source: MacManus, et al. Politics of Florida. 3rd edition (2011)
Why Don’t Youth Age 18-25 Vote?
Don’t know how to register
Feel like their vote won’t matter
or someone else will vote for
them
Don’t know where to go or how
to vote
Missed the deadline
The League of Women Voters created a website to assist voters:
BeReadytoVote.org
Register to Vote
Check your voter status
Update your address
Ways to Vote
Nonpartisan Election Guides
Additionally, “The absentee ballot experts” will help you at:
http://www.longdistancevoter.org/ - .U9fXWiiW70A
Obtain Absentee ballots
Out-of-state
Out-of-county
Register to vote
Re-register as a permanent Florida resident
Check voter status
Check voter deadlines
League of Women Voters of Florida Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhg00nRL6L4&list=
PL89tXYi1HfS519AKD7VT-VJG5CuMNKRsP
“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote
except the American people themselves and the only way they could do
this is by not voting.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt