Voting in the United States
Every thing any responsible voter needs to know!
Voter Registration and Requirements
One can find applications for registration at county offices or they can be mailed for convenience. The requirements for registration vary.
The National Voters Registration act requires that the state let people register when they are renewing their drivers licenses.
Registration forms ask for your name, address, age and party preference, this allows you to register to be a member of that political party.
To be able to vote you must be at least 18 years old or older, besides this any person who is an citizen of America and lives in the state they vote in, has the right to vote.
Steps to Voting
Voters
If a voters chooses to not vote it may be because they do not meet the state requirements, they may not have registered after recently moving residents, or they may not think the candidates running represent their feelings.
Voting for some people is important because it gives them a chance to express their political opinions and to choose government leaders.
Straight vs Split ticket voting
In straight ticket voting a voter chooses to vote for all the candidates in one political party while split ticket voting involves voting for candidates from different political parties.
Ballot Fatigue
Ballot fatigue is an example of a feeling of apathy towards the end of voting for candidates. It is where, after filling out so many names a voter may tend to just start filling in random candidates instead of picking who they want.
Time line and Voting Amendments
1920- Nineteenth Amendment: Women given right to vote.
1924- Congressional Act: All Native Americans given citizenship
1957- Civil rights act of 1957: Justice department can sue to protect voting rights in various states.
1960- Civil rights act of 1960:introduces penalties against anyone who obstructs an individuals right to vote.
1961: Twenty-third amendment: Citizens in the District of Columbia can vote.
1964: Twenty-forth amendment: No more poll taxes.
1971- Twenty-sixth amendment: lowered voting age to 18 years old.