Extending the right to vote in America

1. Extending the right to vote in America

2. 1. Religious Restrictions Removed • 1810: States began to eliminate religious qualifications to vote

3. 2. Property ownerships restrictions • 1850’s States began eliminated ownership of property as a requirement to vote

4. 3. 1870: Race Restrictions on Men • The 15th amendment allowed all men to vote regardless of color and race.

5. 4. Gender Restrictions • 19th Amendment allowed all women 21 and older to vote

6. 5. 1961: D.C. residents now have Electoral votes to elect the president • 23rd Amendment Gave D.C. three electoral votes

7. 6. 1964: Eliminated poll taxes • 24th Amendment ended the requirement of a tax to vote

8. Poll tax receipt

9. 7. 1965 Voting Rights Act • Outlawed all literacy tests in the United States. • Alabama Literacy test • http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/origins/images/al_literacy.pdf

10. 8. 1971: Legal adults can vote • 26th Amendment: All 18 year olds can vote.

11. Voting in America by the Numbers

14. Do these videos work to get young people out to vote • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by2ECbOjcw0&feature=related

15. Ideas to increase voting in the United States

16. Same day registration instead of 30 days ahead of time

17. All citizens automatically registered at age 18

18. Make election a holiday

19. Hold fewer elections (like most other countries)

20. Change election day to Saturday or Sunday

21. Make Voting Mandatory

22. Longer Period of time to voteMore than one day

23. Internet Voting

24. Voter Qualifications

25. Citizenship • Allows for only citizens to vote • We shouldn’t be voting in Canada’s and Mexico’s elections.

26. Residence • Most states require 30 days • Allows voters time to know the issues • Prevents fraud

27. Age • Assures that voters have the maturity and knowledge to understand the issues. • Legal Adults

28. Registration • Prevents Fraudulent voting

29. Previous voter qualifications that are now illegal

30. Literacy Tests • Theory: Keeps people who don’t have the mental and reading ability from voting • Reality: Used to keep immigrants and minorities from voting.

31. Poll Taxes • Made people pay to vote • Kept poor people from voting

32. Grandfather Clauses • If Your grandfather voted then you didn’t have to take a literacy test. • Effect: Only ex-slaves families and immigrants would have to take literacy tests.

33. The following groups are denied the right to vote

34. People who are in mental institutions

35. Mentally Incompetent

36. Convicted of a felony (serious crime) • Some states

37. In jail or prison

38. Dishonorably discharged from the armed forces • Some states

39. Or if you’re Homer Simpson • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ&feature=related

40. Why Qualified voters DON’T vote

41. Why qualified voters don’t vote • My vote doesn’t matter • Satisfied with the way things are • Distrust Politicians • It’s inconvenient and time consuming • Time Zone fallout • Lack of interest in politics • Absent from area on election day • I might have to do jury duty!