GOV 310L Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Incumbent, Baby Boomers, Flag Desecration
Document Summary
Term for the vote, right to vote. Set by states unless there is federal regulation: at first, property, race, gender, religion, taxation. 1870 black men can vote, but black men could not exercise right to vote in south until. 1960s voting rights act: but followed by poll tax, literacy test, and white primary. 23rd amendment (dc receives electoral college vote) 26th (lowered voting age to 18 from 21) Vary by state (such as felony record) eliminates 1/8th of black population, which rises to 1/3rd in states such as florida and alabama. Cost-benefit analysis costly to take time off work. Psychological benefit of voting (such as sense of duty), take satisfaction in expressing support for candidate or position: 1996 lowest turnout in 20th century (100 million), 2008 (131 million) Efforts of parties, groups, and activists to encourage supporters to turn out for elections. This assistance reduces the costs of voting.
