Voting In the USA!
By: Emily Simpson
Voting Qualifications and Procedures
Qualifications
- Must to be registered to vote
- At least 18 years of age
- resident of a state for a certain period of time
- Citizen of the US
Procedure
- File Registration Form- asks for things such as name, address,age, and often party preference
- Go to polling Place (generally open from early morning thru 7-8pm)
- sign application form at Clerk's Table
- Clerk passes it to challenger's table who looks up your registration for and compares signatures
Why Do and Don't People Vote
Do:
- Voice Opinions
- Elect leaders that they choose
- Want change in government
Don't:
- Think their vote won't make a difference
- Don't care
- Don't meet voting requirements
- Don't like any candidates
- Didn't register after changing residences
Straight V. Split Ticket Voting
Straight Ticket:
Voting for all the candidates from one political party
Split Ticket:
Voting for some candidates from both parties
Ballot Fatigue
What is it?
Ballot Fatigue is When people at first vote seriously and are very considerate but eventually they get lazy and apathetic.
Voting Amendments
15th Amendment
A person cannot be denied the right to vote based on race, color, or former conditions of servitude.
This means that no matter the color of your skin, or if you were a former slave, you can not be told you are ineligible to vote.
19th Amendment
States can not prohibit the right to vote based on the gender of a person.
This means that Women are given the right to vote!
23rd Amendment
24th amendment
Congress and the states can not condition the right to vote on a poll tax.
This means citizens can't be taxed to vote.
Timeline of Suffrage in the United States
1924- Congressional Act: All Native Americans given citizenship
1960- Civil Rights Act of 1960: Introduces penalties against anybody who obstructs an individuals voting rights
1965- Voting Rights Act of 1965: Literacy test prohibited; federal voters registrars authorized in 7 southern states
1982- Voting Rights Act Amendment of 1982: Extends provisions of two previous voting rights act amendments
1993- National Voter Registration Act: Makes it easier to register to vote and to maintain registration