Which leads me to my last reply in resurrecting this thread:
My idea for improving voting patterns would be to repeal the 26th Amendment, which allowed people under 21 to vote, and then restrict the franchise to U.S. Citizens who are homeowners, business owners, and military veterans. Women pay taxes; they should be allowed to keep the franchise, subject to the aforementioned restrictions.
My franchise restrictions would also require repeal of that section of the 14th Amendment which withholds some House representation from states denying all men (nowadays, people) the franchise.