Who Votes?

Flashcards about voter turnout, voting rights, and voter behavior.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible individuals who vote; it reflects the level of citizen participation in government.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one's actions can influence the political system and improve individual lives.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Requires states to apply voting rules and procedures equally to all races.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Mandated sending federal examiners to certain areas to help register voters and banned literacy tests.

South Carolina v. Katzenbach (1966)

A Supreme Court case that upheld the Voting Rights Act, affirming Congress's power to enforce voting rights.

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

A federal law that made it easier for Americans to register to vote and maintain their registration.

Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of 1984

Requires polling places to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986

Allows members of the U.S. Armed Forces and overseas voters to register and vote by mail.

Factors Influencing Voter Decisions

Voter decisions are influenced by party identification, ideological orientation, candidate characteristics, and contemporary political issues.

Rational Choice Voting

Voters make decisions based on what they believe is in their best interest.

Retrospective Voting

Voters assess the performance of incumbents and vote based on past outcomes.

Prospective Voting

Voters consider how candidates' proposed policies will affect them in the future.

Party-Line Voting

Voters consistently support candidates from their preferred party.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Banned literacy tests as a voting requirement.

Voting Rights Act Expansion

Those who do not speak English well.

15th amendment

Expands suffrage to millions of African American males 21 years of age and older

17th amendment

Election of U.S. senators from state legislatures to direct election by popular vote

19th amendment

granting women the right to vote and doubling the electorate

24th amendment

Prevented states from charging people to vote in federal elections, or requiring a poll tax

26th amendment

Lowered the voting age in federal elections from 21 to 18 years