Non-voters –59.9 million people not registered in 1992 – most common reason; may be due to high...
Transcript of Non-voters –59.9 million people not registered in 1992 – most common reason; may be due to high...
The Electorate
Eliminating Barriers • Historically, women and African Americans
have faced the greatest barriers to suffrage• 15th and 19th Amendments - Suffrage for
African Americans and women• 24th Amendment – abolished Poll taxes • Voting Rights Act of 1965 – empowered the
federal government to outlaw discriminatory practices
• 26th Amendment – lowered voting age to 18
Non-voters
– 59.9 million people not registered in 1992 – most common reason; may be due to high mobility
– No interest in politics, negative view of government, can’t make time, low voter efficacy
Are turnout rates cause for concern?
• How to get out the vote – Election day –
Sunday?/National Holiday– Make requirement – illegal
to not vote in Brazil – Appeal to direct
participation: initiative, referendum, recall
Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections
Conduct of Elections
• Australian Ballot– Two common types:
1. Office Block (Mass) Ballot
2. Party Collumn (Ind) Ballot• Coattail effect
• Mail Voting– Typically absentee ballots, some states offer to entire
electorate– good way to increase turnout, but …– may lead to premature decisions, allow less secrecy, and
encourage fraud
Ballots
Off ice Block Party-Column
Issues and Problems• Fraud
– provisional and absentee balloting
• Voter ID cards– Fraud reduction or
voter suppression
• Computerized Voting– Optical scan vs.
touch screen