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Understanding Voter Qualifications in the United States: A Historical Perspective

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ansel
20 diapositives · 363 Views · Jul 31, 2014

This overview explores the evolution of voter qualifications in the United States, emphasizing that democracy relies on all citizens' ability to vote. It covers the constitutional backdrop, including the lack of a guaranteed right to vote and how states determine voter eligibility. Key historical milestones, such as the 15th and 19th Amendments, reveal how voting rights expanded over time to include various demographics. The article discusses current qualifications for voter eligibility, including citizenship, residency, and age, highlighting state-specific variations and requirements.

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  1. “Voter Qualifications” Chapter 6, Sections 1 & 2

  2. * KEY CONCEPT: Democracy can only succeed if ALL citizens have the ability to vote… The history of the United States has been marked by a slow, but steady, expansion of the right to vote!

  3. The Constitution and Voting • Is it in the Constitution? • like “freedom of speech?” • The Constitution ___________to the States the right to set suffrage requirements…

  4. Constitutional Right to Vote • Most of us do not realize that we do not have a constitutionally protected right to vote! • Something we take for granted… • While there are amendments to the U.S. Constitution that prohibit discrimination based on race (15th), sex (19th) and age (26th), no affirmative right to vote exists.

  5. Voting = Reserved Power • Aside from basic constitutional requirements, qualifications for voters are left to the states… • As long as qualifications do not conflict with Constitution, everything is ALRIGHT! • Can/Should these people be able to vote? • Felons, mentally incompetent, *minors, *non-citizens

  6. Let’s look at who can actually vote in the United States!

  7. Article I, Sec. 2, Clause 1 • “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States...” • QUESTION: Who are/have been “the people?” • Since 1790, “the people” has expanded several times… • through amendment and federal law

  8. “Stage 1: Expanding the Electorate” • “Early 1800s” – religious (1810), property ownership and tax payment qualifications are removed… • Almost all white males could vote by 1890

  9. Benjamin Franklin on suffrage:“Today a man owns a jackass worth fifty dollars and he is entitled to vote; but before the next election the jackass dies. The man in the meantime has become more experienced, his knowledge of the principles of government, and his acquaintance with mankind, are more extensive, and he is therefore better qualified to make a proper selection of rulers — but the jackass is dead and the man cannot vote. Now gentlemen, pray inform me, in whom is the right of suffrage? In the man or in the jackass?”

  10. “Stage 2: Expanding the Electorate” • “Post Civil War” – 1870 The 15th Amendment is passed. • It gives former slaves the right to vote and protects the voting rights of adult male citizens of any race (BUT…) • *Before Civil War, Constitution does not provide protections for voting! • Strictly a state issue…

  11. “Stage 3: Expanding the Electorate” • “1920s” – 1920 The 19th Amendment is ratified. • guarantees woman's suffrage. • 1924Indian Citizenship Act grants all Native Americans the rights of citizenship (BUT…)

  12. “Stage 4: Expanding the Electorate” • “Civil Rights Era” – 1957 The first law to implement the 15th amendment, the Civil Rights Act, is passed. • 1961 The 23rd Amendment is ratified. • allows voters of the District of Columbia to participate in presidential elections. • 1964 The 24th Amendment is ratified. • bans the poll tax as a requirement for voting in federal elections. • 1965 The Voting Rights Act protects the rights of minority voters and eliminates voting barriers such as the literacy test. The Act is expanded and renewed in 1970, 1975, and 1982.

  13. “Stage 5: Expanding the Electorate” • “Post Vietnam Era” – 1971 The 26th Amendment is ratified. • sets the *minimum voting age at 18.

  14. Voting Eligible Today • Approx. = 218,000,000 eligible voters… • 70% of the population!

  15. All states have three universal types of requirements to be eligible to vote…

  16. Qualifications and Requirements for/of Voters in the United States • Citizenship • State by state basis … • Nothing in the Constitution that denies aliens the right to vote, BUT… • A state could very well could allow aliens to vote! • Minnesota – citizen for 3 months • Pennsylvania – citizen for 1 month

  17. Qualifications and Requirements for/of Voters in the United States • Residency • Similar to citizenship… • No state has longer than a 30 day residency requirement; • Several states have no residency requirements, only registration… • Ohio – 30 day residency and registration • Alabama and Iowa – 10 day residency requirement

  18. Qualifications and Requirements for/of Voters in the United States • Age • 1971, 26th Amendment – Georgia, 1943 • States could set the voting age lower! (but they haven’t)