Historical Moments for Participation

Jamie MonoganUniversity of GeorgiaNovember 4, 2015

ObjectivesBy the end of this meeting, participants should be able to:•Identify policies that have removed voting barriers or made it easier to vote.

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

Current and Former Voting Barriers

• 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:–Civil Rights Act of 1957 (banned intimidation

or interference)– Twenty-Fourth Amendment (banned poll tax)–Voting Rights Act of 1965 (federal registrars

and banned literacy tests)

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

Groups and Voting Rights

• Most suffrage extensions have come in the wake of activism by groups seeking voting rights–Women’s suffrage

movement–LUV—Let Us Vote–Civil rights movement

Assignments• For Friday: Read Bullock and Gaddie,

Chapter 10• For Monday: Read Kollman, pp. 377-392• Wednesday, November 11: Chapter 11

concept map exercise due at 11:59pm on ELC

Additional Material

Turnout Trends

Turnout Trends• 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