Voter Behavior

Suffrage=The Right to Vote=Franchise

Voting is a Privilege and a Right but

not a requirement

The electorate refers to the “potential”

voting population

To vote in a presidential election today, you must be 18 years old, a United States

citizen, be a resident of the state you want to vote in and not a convicted felon. Each
state has its own requirements. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution provides that

"Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations" governing elections

In most cases you MUST register to vote..

1850 Most white males could vote
1870 The 15th Amendment INTENDED to drop race requirements

The 1960’s brought more legislation to make the 15th Amendment effective

1964 Civil Rights Act
1965 Voter Rights Act

1920 19th Amendment dropped the gender restrictions
1961 23rd Amendment added DC voters to the presidential electorate
1964 24th Amendment eliminated poll taxes
1971 26th Amendment set the voting age to 18

People who don’t

Cannot Voters

Sick

Traveling
Disabled
Jailed

Mental institutions

Religious beliefs

Non-Voters

No political

efficacy

My vote won't count

Don’t trust the

“system”

Party Identification is the

number most significant and

lasting predictor of how a

person will vote

Other factors that determine who votes and how they vote:

Family

Age

Income

Education Level