Question 1

Why would Democrats be more likely to favor voter registration at welfare offices?

Accepted Answer

Democrats are generally more likely to support policies that benefit lower-income Americans, who are more likely to rely on welfare services. Therefore, they may see voter registration at welfare offices as a way to increase voter turnout among their demographic. Additionally, research has shown that lower-income individuals are more likely to identify as Democrats, further supporting this answer choice.

Question 2

Which constitutional amendment guaranteed women the right to vote in all elections?

Accepted Answer

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote in all elections. The 15th Amendment granted suffrage to African American men, the 24th Amendment abolished poll taxes, and the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.

Question 3

Although deciding upon voting times,places,equipment,and ballots is the responsibility of state governments,most states pass on this responsibility to which political entity?

Accepted Answer

In most states, county governments are responsible for conducting elections and are tasked with selecting voting times, places, equipment, and ballots. While some responsibilities may be shared with municipal governments or local party operators, county governments are the primary entity responsible for organizing elections. Precinct captains are typically volunteers within political parties and have no formal role in administering elections.

Question 4

Which political party do nonvoters typically support?

Accepted Answer

Nonvoters typically lean towards supporting the Democratic Party. This is because demographic groups that are less likely to vote, such as young people and minorities, tend to favor Democratic policies and candidates.

Question 5

In which of the following countries is voter turnout in national elections the lowest?

Accepted Answer

Australia, Sweden, and Italy have higher voter turnout rates in national elections compared to the United States. In Australia, voting is compulsory, leading to very high participation rates. Sweden and Italy also typically see high voter engagement due to various cultural and political factors. The United States, on the other hand, has one of the lower voter turnout rates among developed countries, particularly in non-presidential elections.

Question 6

In the United States,what percentage of the voting age population fails to vote,even in presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, voter turnout in presidential elections typically ranges around 60%, meaning about 40% of the voting age population does not vote.

Question 7

Which constitutional amendment gave 18-year-olds the right to vote?

Accepted Answer

The 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, giving 18-year-olds the right to vote in federal elections.

Question 8

When did women's right to vote become constitutionally guaranteed in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified by the necessary number of states on August 18, 1920, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

Question 9

When did Congress outlaw literacy tests altogether as a prerequisite to voter registration?

Accepted Answer

Congress outlawed literacy tests as a prerequisite to voter registration with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. However, this was expanded in 1970 with the passage of the Voting Rights Act Amendment, which made it illegal for any state or local government to use literacy tests to determine eligibility to vote.

Question 10

Voter turnout is best defined as the number of __________.

Accepted Answer

Voter turnout is defined as the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in an election. Therefore, the best option is D, which refers to the actual voters in relation to the number of people eligible to register and vote.

Question 11

Which of the following is credited with bringing an end to property qualifications for voting?

Accepted Answer

Jeffersonian and Jacksonian principles of democracy emphasized the importance of expanding suffrage to all white men, regardless of property ownership. This ideology helped bring an end to property qualifications for voting in many states.

Question 12

Which of the following made it easier for overseas citizens and military personnel to use absentee voting in federal elections?

Accepted Answer

The MOVE Act (Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act) was enacted in 2009 to improve the absentee voting process for overseas citizens and military personnel. It required states to provide electronic delivery of absentee ballots to these voters and allowed them to request and receive ballots earlier than previously allowed. The Motor Voter Act, National Voter Registration Act, and Helping America Vote Act primarily deal with voter registration and election administration within the United States.

Question 13

The requirement that prospective voters establish their identity and place of residence prior to an election in order to be eligible to vote is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The requirement referred to in the question is registration. Suffrage refers to the right to vote, disfranchisement is the act of depriving an individual of their right to vote, and socialization refers to the process by which individuals learn and adapt to the norms and values of society.

Question 14

What happens to paper and punch-card ballots when voters "overvote," marking or punching votes for more than one candidate for the same office?

Accepted Answer

When a voter marks or punches votes for more than one candidate for the same office, it is considered an overvote. In most cases, overvoted ballots are not counted and are rejected as invalid. This is because it is not clear which candidate the voter intended to vote for, and counting the vote for multiple candidates would violate the principle of "one person, one vote." Therefore, the most likely scenario is that the overvoted ballots are uncounted.

Question 15

What was the principle purpose of the National Voter Registration Act (1993)?

Accepted Answer

The principle purpose of the National Voter Registration Act (1993), also known as the "Motor Voter" act, was to make registering to vote easier by allowing citizens to register to vote when getting their driver's license or through other government agencies.

Question 16

Of the following,which is an intrinsic reward of voting?

Accepted Answer

Fulfilling one's sense of duty is an intrinsic reward because it provides an internal sense of satisfaction and personal fulfillment. The other options (A, B, and C) are extrinsic rewards that involve external factors and outcomes.

Question 17

Approximately 85 percent of registered voters turn out for a presidential election,but this figure represents only about 50 percent of the voting-age population.What does this discrepancy suggest?

Accepted Answer

The fact that only approximately 50 percent of the voting-age population turns out to vote suggests that registration may be a significant barrier to participation, as many eligible voters may not be registered to vote.

Question 18

What was the aim of the 15th Amendment?

Accepted Answer

The 15th Amendment aimed to extend the vote to former African American slaves and prohibit voter discrimination on the basis of race. It did not address unequal standards or immaterial errors in voter registration procedures.

Question 19

Which of the key events in the history of voting in America occurred first?

Accepted Answer

The elimination of the poll tax for voting in national elections occurred first, with the passage of the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1964. The other options occurred later: the extension of the vote to 18-year-olds with the 26th Amendment in 1971, the demonstration in Selma, Alabama in 1965, and the passage of the "Motor Voter Act" in 1993.

Question 20

In the 2012 presidential election,about what percentage of votes were cast by nonwhites?

Accepted Answer

In the 2012 presidential election, more than 25 percent of votes were cast by nonwhites, reflecting the increasing diversity of the American electorate.

Quiz 5: Opinion and Participation: Thinking and Acting in Politics