To the Polls!

1
To the Polls!

• A Presentation on Voting in America

2
Some Words To Know

• Suffrage-The right to vote
• Franchise-The Right to Vote
• Enfranchisement-The process of bestowing the
  right to vote.
• The original framers let states set the
  requirements for who could vote. Today states
  are still in charge of registering voters and
  running elections.

3
States Cannot Stop People from Voting

• Because of their race, color or previous
  conditions of servitude. (15th Amendment)
• Because of their gender. (19th Amendment)
• Based on their age if they are 18 or older. (26th
  Amendment)
• By creating a poll tax that must be paid to be
  eligible to vote (24th Amendment).

4
Qualifications to Register to Vote in Virginia

• Registration-The process of enrolling with the
  appropriate local government office so you can
  vote
• Citizen of the United States
• Resident of Virginia and precinct. Transients
  are not allowed to vote.
• You must be 18 or older. In Virginia you can
  register when you are 17.

5
How to Register in Virginia

• In person at the Registrars Office
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Mail Application
• Registration is closed 29 days before election
• When you register you can choose to include
  your political party preference.

6
Who Cant Vote?

• Anyone in a mental institution or declared
  mentally incompetent.
• Most states do not allow criminals convicted of
  felonies to vote.
• Some states do not allow citizens who have been
  dishonorably discharged from the armed forces to
  vote.

7
Voting on Election Day

• Citizens vote at their local polling place in
  their precinct, or geographic voting district.
• Voters select their choice on a ballot, or the
  list of candidates running for office.
• If a voter cannot be there on election day, they
  can vote with an absentee ballot, a ballot they
  complete and mail in and it is opened and counted
  on election day.
• Election officials release the returns, or the
  results of the election once votes are counted.
• The media tries to determine who won before the
  returns are announced by using exit polls.

8
Who is Most Likely to Vote?

• Education
• Age
• Income

9
Who Votes and Who Doesnt?

• PEOPLE MOST LIKELY TO VOTE
• High Income
• Higher Education
• Higher Occupation Status.
• Positive attitude towards government
• Live in areas with a lot of political competition
• Women

• PEOPLE MOST LIKELY NOT TO VOTE
• Young people (under 35)
• Unmarried
• Unskilled
• Those living in the South and in rural areas
• Men

10
The Challenge of Voter Apathy

• The United States has one of the lowest voter
  turnouts in any democratic country.
• Only 51 of registered voters took part in the
  2000 election.
• Voter turnout is even lower during midterm
  elections, or elections that occur in years when
  there is no presidential election.

11
Why People Dont Vote

• Lack of Interest-People do not care
• Cannot vote for health, criminal, or citizenship
  reasons.
• People feel their vote doesnt count.
• People cannot get to the polls-weather, job
  demands, forget to register, or long polling
  lines.