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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
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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
Conduct of Elections • Australian Ballot • Two common types: • Office Block (Mass) Ballot • 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 Office 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