Chapter 7 Test

allows governments to determine which citizens are allowed to vote and, in some cases, from which list of candidates they may select a party nominee.

• voter registration
• voter initiation

elections are run by the _______

• state governments
• federal government
• local governments

States may also have a _____requirement, which establishes how long a citizen must live in a state before becoming eligible to register: it is often thirty days.

• residency
• housing
• livability

In order to register you must be a _____

• citizens
• white male
• tax payer

consists of persons who are eighteen and older. Some of these persons may not be eligible to vote in their state, but they are included because they are of age to do so.

• voting age population
• voting eligible population

citizens eighteen and older who, whether they have registered or not, are eligible to vote because they are citizens, mentally competent, and not imprisoned.

• voting age population
• voting eligible population

factors that affect voter turnout

• age
• socioeconomic status
• race
• gender

factors that decrease voter turnout

• voting is not mandated
• apathy
• social protest
• some people are not allowed to vote

a race where a challenger runs against the incumbent—the current office holder. Incumbents who run for reelection are very likely to win for a number of reasons.

• open seat
• competitive seat

a seat whose incumbent is not running for reelection.

• competitive seat
• open seat