Voting in the United States
History
Eligibility
Voting History

1787-1840s

Requirements left up
to states to decide


Most states only
allowed white, male,
property owners, 21yrs
Ben Franklin—”In
whom is the right of
suffrage? In the man or
the jackass?”
Voting History

By 1840s most states
had gotten rid of
property and
taxpaying
requirement
Voting History

15th Amendment
(1870)

A person could not be
denied the right to vote
based on race or color


All males 21 yrs. Old
Did not become a
reality for almost a
century
Voting History

Southern states used





Poll taxes
Literacy tests
Grandfather clause
Physical intimidation
Gerrymandering—the
practice of drawing
electoral district lines to
limit the voting strength of a
particular group or party to
deny the right to vote
Voting History

Gerrymandering


spreads opposition in a particular way so a party usually
wins
groups a particular party together in one district
Old Map
New Map
Voting History

Woman’s Suffrage
Movement (18481920)

19th Amendment

Cannot be denied the
right to vote because
of gender
Voting History

Civil Rights
Movement (1960’s)


Largely based on
suffrage
Voting Rights Act
1965—eliminated
literacy tests
Voting History

24th Amendment

Eliminated poll tax as
a condition for voting
in any federal election
Voting History

26th Amendment
(1971)

Lowered voting age
from 21yrs to 18yrs
Voter Eligibility Today


Citizenship
Residence




Allow new voters to be familiar with area
Prevent political machines
Age—18 yrs old
Registration

Intended to prevent fraudulent voting