The Early American Suffrage
The framers could not agree, so they left the power to the states
The New Jersey Constitution
The New Jersey Constitution
- All inhabitants who met property/ residency(including women and African Americans)
- However those groups were later disenfranchised in the 1800's
Expansion of Suffrage
White Men
|
African American Men
|
Women
|
Native Americans
|
18 Years Old
- By '70 only three states granted suffrage to those under age 21
- Facing protest over Vietnam Congress amends Voting Rights Act to ensure suffrage for 18 year olds
- Oregon v. Mitchell ('70)-ruled that Congress could regulate voting age in national elections but not state elections.
- In response 26th amendment passed prohibited all governments form denying voting rights of citizens age 18 or older.