Critical Thinking Question

1
Critical Thinking Question

• Imagine you are running for the Presidency. What
  top 3 social issues would you take on as your
  Political Platform? Describe your stance on the
  issues and why they are so important to you
  (Liberal or Conservative).

2
Voting Rights Requirements
3
Right to Vote

• Suffrage- gaining right to vote
• 1789- white male property owners (5)
• 1820- all white males
• 5 Stages of suffrage
• Religious Qualifications removed
• 15th Amendment 1870
• 19th Amendment 1920
• 1960s Voters Rights Act 65/ 23rd 24th Amend
• 26th Amendment 1971

4
Voter Qualifications

• Universal Qualifications
• Citizenship
• Residency
• Age
• Other Requirements
• Registration- Motor Voter Law 1995
• Poll Tax Literacy Test..

5
Deny the Right to Vote

• Mentally Incompetent
• Criminals- hideous crimes

6
15th Amendment

• African Americans right to vote
• Uninforced for 90 years
• Tactics to get around
• Violence Threats
• Literacy Tests
• Registration
• Poll Taxes
• Gerrymandering

7
Civil Rights Legislation

• Civil Rights Act 1964
• Outlawed job discrimination
• Forbids voter registration requirements
• Voting Rights Act 1965
• Made 15th Amendment work
• Outlawed literacy tests poll taxes
• Preclearance Dept. of Justice OKs any
  election laws

8
Critical Thinking Question

• Do you feel that a test is necessary to make sure
  only informed people can vote? Should the US
  begin administering a competency test?
• List 3-5 requirements you feel should be placed
  on voters

9
Nominations and Elections

• Self Announcement
• Caucus
• Convention
• Direct primary
• Petition

10
Open Primaries

• Any qualified voters participate
• Indiana
• 23 states

11
Closed Primaries

• Only party members can vote
• Prevents party raiding

12
Electoral Process

• Elections
• 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November
• Absentee Ballots
• Coattail Effect
• Polling Place
• Indiana 6am to 6pm
• Online Voting
• Astronaut David Wolf votes from space Nov. 97
• 250 Soldiers vote online Nov. 00

13
Voter Behavior
14
Non Voters

• 49- 100 million didnt vote for President
• 35 years old or younger, Unmarried, Unskilled
• Reasons
• Feel it makes no difference
• Distrust system
• Lack of interest
• Lack political efficacy
• Inconvenience
• Time Zone Fallout

15
Cannot Voters

• Mentally Ill
• Religious beliefs
• Illness
• Criminals
• Aliens

16
Voters

• Higher Education, High Income Job Status
• Influencing Factors
• Sociological
• Income, education, age, family, gender
• Psychological (perception of politics)
• Party ID, Candidates, Elections

17
Critical Thinking

• Some argue that increasing voter turnout is a
  good idea since elected officials would then pay
  less attention to special interests groups and
  more attention to needs of society as a whole.
  Others argue that it is a bad idea because it
  would bring vast amounts of politically ignorant
  people to the polls.
• What do you think about voter turnout?