Voting
Lindsey Cox
Voter Registration Procedures and Requirements
- Must register online or at the polling place
- Go to the polling place on Election Day in order to vote
- Polling places are typically at local schools and fire departments
Registration Requirements:
- Must be 18
- Must register sometimes up to 25 days before the election
- Cannot have any felonies
- Must be able to provide proof of citizenship, address, and age
Steps in Voting
- Citizens go to the polling places on Election Day.
- Write your name and address on a application form at the clerks table.
- The clerk passes your form onto the challengers table, where they sign the form if you are eligible to vote.
- Take your form to the voting booth where you cast your votes.
- Your ballot is counted by the election workers and is then taken to the election board.
Voter Behavior
Straight vs. Split Ticket Voting: Straight voting is voting for all the candidates in one political party. Split voting is choosing candidates from one party and some from the other.
Ballot Fatigue: Is when voters are in the voting booth and as they get near the end of the ballot they just begin to choose candidates at random because they are tired of trying to decide between candidates.
Voting Amendments
- 15 Amendment: Allowed African American males to vote.
- 17 Amendment: Gave voters the right to directly vote for senators.
- 19 Amendment: Gave women the right to vote.
- 23 Amendment: Citizens of D.C. were allowed to vote.
- 24 Amendment: Put an end to poll taxes at elections.
- 26 Amendment: Changed voting age from 21 to 18.
Timeline of Voting Sufferage
1965-Voting Rights Acts of 1965: Literacy tests prohibited and Federal voter registers authorized in 7 southern states.
1992-Voting Rights Language Assistance Act: Extends use of bilingual ballots and voting assistance.
1993-National Voter Registration Act: Makes it easier to register to vote and to maintain registration.
2006-Voting Rights Act Re-authorization and Amendments Act of 2006: Prohibits use of tests or devices to deny the right to vote; requires certain jurisdictions to provide voting materials in multiple languages.