Voter Behavior
How many Americans Vote?
History of Suffrage/Franchise
• “Electorate”
• States decide qualifications
– 1789 qualifiers?
– Early 1800s (Andrew Jackson)
History of Suffrage/Franchise
• Congressional Actions
– 15th Amendment (1870)
– 19th Amendment (1920)
– 1960s
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• 23rd Amendment (1961)
• 24th Amendment (1964)
– 26th Amendment (1971)
Voting Requirements
• 3 factors to vote
1. Citizenship
2. Residence
3. Age
• Other issues
– Registration
– Restrictions
Nonvoters
• Why low voter turnout in US?
– Some can not vote
– Inconvenience
– Indifference
– Distrust
Voter Demographics
• 2012 Presidential Election breakdown Link
• #1 factor that makes a person vote =
education
• Why you should vote
1. Your MOST powerful day in USA
2. Politicians respond to voters