American Government

1. Citizenship:1. Aliens, foreign born residents who have not

become citizens are generally denied the right to vote in this country. Although, the Constitution does not deny aliens the right to vote.

2. Residence:1. In order to vote in this country you must be a legal

resident of the State that you vote in.2. In many States, a person must have lived in the

State for a certain period of time before they have the right to vote.

3. Age:1. The 26th amendment barred States from setting the

minimum age for voting under the age of 18.2. Some States have even tried to lower the vote to

17.

Every State except North Dakota requires a person to be registered in order to vote.

Most States require you to register at least 20 to 30 days before a major election. In Wisconsin and Maine

you can register on the day of the election.

Typically, you must register your name, age, place of birth, present address, and length of residence.

State laws require local election officials to purge the poll books, this means removing the people who are no longer able to vote.

•Every State denies the vote to some people.

•Few States allow people found mentally incompetent to vote.

•Some States disqualify people convicted of serious crimes from voting, although it is often possible for convicted felons to regain their voting rights.

•Some States also ban those dishonorably discharged from the armed forces from voting.

•Some states now require a photo ID

•People who live in U.S. territories (Guam, Puerto Rico)They have symbolic votes and send a non-voting representative to Congress.

Most laws are usually made by elected officials, but in some situations voters can change laws directly through casting a ballot.

Two ways:

Initiative

Referendum

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Definition:

A procedure that enables a specified number of voters to propose a law by petition.

Initiative

Added Info:

There usually is a minimum number of voters that they need in order for it to be considered by lawmakers.

Examples:

Sick Days in Milwaukee

Proposition 19 in California

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Referendum

Definition:

A legislative act that is referred to voters for final approval or rejection.

Added Info:

This is the closest that the United States gets to direct democracy .

Examples:

Gay Marriage in Wisconsin

Should felons be able to vote?

Should people currently in jail be able to vote?