POLS 1101 Lecture 19 Outline of Last Lecture I Participation and Democratic Politics II Paradox of Voting III Costs of Voting IV Mitigating Costs of Voting V Costs of Participation Outline of Current Lecture I Voting Rights II Removing Voting Barriers III Groups and Voting Rights IV Turnout Trends V Participation Rates VI Mobilization Current Lecture Patterns in Participation I Voting Rights The franchise or right to vote has gradually expanded throughout the nation s history In the U S registration is handled by states with federal guidelines on eligibility Most democracies now allow citizens over the age of 18 to vote States can use mental capacity and criminal records to limit voting rights Poll taxes and literacy tests were used by many southern states to limit African American voting rights Reforms o Civil Rights Act of 1964 literacy tests o Twenty Fourth Amendment poll tax o Voting Rights Act of 1965 federal registrars II Removing Voting Barriers Most white men could vote by 1840 15th Amendment granted African Americans voting rights in 1870 19th Amendment guaranteed women s suffrage in 1920 26th Amendment granted voting rights to 18 21 year olds in 1971 III Groups and Voting Rights Most suffrage extensions have come in the wake of activism by groups seeking voting rights a Women s suffrage movement b LUV Let Us Vote c Civil rights movement IV Turnout Trends V Steep drop in turnout through much of 20th century Decline in voter mobilization efforts New groups eligible Turnout has increased in recent elections Increased mobilization efforts Close elections Participation Rates Socioeconomic status is strongly correlated with voting and other forms of participation Education is number one predictor of turnout in the U S a Highest education levels twice as likely to vote as lowest education levels VI Mobilization when somebody actively invites you personally to a campaign or to vote or a party for their campaign Mobilization can help explain many trends Educated need less mobilizing Educated are easier to reach for mobilization Unions and other groups that target less educated have declined in past decades
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