Chapter 8: Political Participation

Political participation

Ways in which people participate in politics and government

Voting-age participation

Citizens who can vote which are over 18

Voting-eligible population

Citizens who reached the minimum age and can vote, which excludes those who are not legally allowed to vote

Literacy test

An examination to see whether a voter met literacy requirements

Poll tax

A tax that a voter must pay before voting

Grandfather clause

A clause that allows people who don’t meet registration requirements to vote if their ancestors did

White primary

A practice of restricting voting for African Americans through arbitrary requirements

Australian ballot

A government printed, uniform ballot which replaced fraud associated party printed ballots

Voter identification law

Laws which require voters to show a government issued photo ID to vote

Activists

People who participate in various forms of politics

Motor voter law

Allows voters to register by mail when they renew their drivers' licenses

Voter apathy

People who don’t care or aren’t involved in politics, so they don’t vote

15th Amendment

No denying the right to vote based on race

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators

19th Amendment

No denying the right to vote based on gender

23rd Amendment

DC can vote for President

24th Amendment

Elimination of poll taxes

26th Amendment

Voting age lowered to 18

Early voting

Permits people to cast in person ballots before election day

Absentee voting

The casting of a ballot in advance by mail in situations where illness, travel, or other circumstances prevent voters from voting

Mail voting

A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible citizen, with no traditional voting sites. Only happens in Washington and Oregon.