Amplifying Voting Rights The Essence Of Our Democracy

Democracy, JLPP, REPRESENTATION, VotingRights Lydia Obasi once said, “My vote is my voice…and the voice of all who struggled, so that I may have my voice.” Voting has been a crucial part of political discourse for generations, as... In the 1700s, the right to vote was bestowed solely to white male landowners. The aftermath consisted of decades of poll taxes and literacy tests to keep the right to vote out of the hands of African American men, women, youth, indigenous groups, and immigrants from U.S. territories like Puerto Rico. Achieving the right to vote for these many groups has not been an easy road, as many individuals sacrificed their lives fighting for a voice in politics that has seemingly become forgotten in today’s...

Today, along with a new wave of voter suppression, people have become apathetic and passive, unenthusiastic to engage in their civic duty of voting. Whilst voting rates of various groups fluctuate, one thing remains constant—the massive role voting plays in the government and public policy. Contrary to what many believe, the right to vote is not just significant when choosing a president. It also allows you to elect judges who will interpret rules and the law and set precedent, state congressmen and legislatures who directly oversee your state and neighborhoods—setting state law that has a direct... Voting gives you the power to elect individuals who share the same morals to represent you and determine a better quality of life for you and your loved ones. Voting decides where your tax dollars go and how much schools, hospitals, public spaces, infrastructure, and the arts get.

Voting is essential because it allows for a variety of groups to have a seat on the floor, rather than groups being disregarded and not taken into consideration for any policy. Voting directly impacts the bills and laws that are passed, which will impact employment, housing, education, and health. For the past several years, the U.S. has seen a shift in voting policies and turmoil covering the topic of voting. Currently, states have a wide variety of differences in how they conduct voting. States like Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Arizona have a strict deadline for voters to register, whilst other states like Virginia, Wyoming, and California have no deadline to register.

As it stands, 15 states do not require a voter to present a valid form of ID to vote, and other states require signature verification. Some states like Maine and Alaska have implemented rank-choice voting to some extent, while states like Florida and Kentucky have prohibited rank-choice voting entirely. In 2021, legislators introduced 389 bills with restrictive voting provisions in 48 states. Twenty-two bills with restrictive provisions have already been enacted. These restrictive provisions included limiting absentee voting and disability access. Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama have passed laws since 2020 restricting who can witness a person sign their absentee ballot, how many ballots a single person can witness, and who can return those ballots on...

These laws have been intentionally targeting specific communities. For example, Alabama is one of only four states that don’t allow in-person early voting, and absentee voting is more often used by Black voters who work regular jobs and can’t visit the polls... Voter suppression has become an implicit goal on many leaders’ political agenda. This has been pushed through legislation physically limiting individuals from voting and using media to create a lack of faith in the voting system to keep citizens complacent with everything going on. In the days leading up to the 2024 Presidential Election, ballots were set on fire in Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. Hundreds of ballots were damaged in these fires, and as we know in certain swing counties and states, mere votes may separate the winner and the loser.

This intimidation tactic would most likely impact individuals of the Democratic party as they are more likely to mail in their ballots. Additionally, Republican officials have weaponized the media to cast doubt on the voting system, fueling conspiracies of voter fraud and stolen elections. Donald Trump has said on multiple occasions that the Democrats rigged the 2020 election, that mail-in-ballots cause massive fraud, and that we have a bad voting system. False accusations that have been fact-checked and debunked and the use of negative rhetoric surrounding our voting system may encourage individuals not to vote because they do not believe that it would make a... The right to vote, essential to a well-functioning democracy, is the most enshrined right in the Constitution and is protected by five separate Amendments. CAC works to extend this fundamental right to all Americans and push back against attacks that attempt to limit the people’s access to the ballot box.

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, conservative state and federal officials have proposed or passed restrictions aimed at abridging the right to vote. Discover how CAC is defending our democracy and the people’s access to the ballot box against these attacks. We, The People’s Justice Council, engage and equip communities with tools to build power from the grassroots up and to fight for justice at the policy level. Our vision is to create a just world – a world that is equitable, sustainable, and just, and that connects people with policy. Democracy's cornerstone is the ability to vote, which guarantees that every person's voice is heard and represented in the choices that affect our daily lives.

Without these rights, democracy disintegrates, making society more susceptible to injustice and inequality. Maintaining a just and inclusive democracy depends critically on defending and advancing voting rights. Voting rights have historically been a hotbed of civil rights activism, especially for disadvantaged groups. Young voters and minority populations have been disproportionately impacted by discriminatory measures like literacy tests and poll levies. Voter suppression strategies obstruct citizens' capacity to exercise their right to vote by creating needless obstacles such tight voter ID laws, restricted access to polling places, and purging voter rolls. Voting rights have a direct impact on the governance and policies of a country.

Voting gives people the ability to choose representatives who share their beliefs and priorities, giving them a say in important matters like criminal justice, healthcare, and education. Citizens lose control over these choices when they are denied voting rights or choose not to vote. Voter participation has a major impact on policy decisions, underscoring the importance of voting rights in democracies. Policies that benefit the entire population are produced by high voter turnout, but policies that benefit a small group of people are frequently produced by low voter turnout. The Peoples Justice Council gives voters the knowledge and resources they need to keep up with legislative actions and hold elected officials responsible. The struggle for voting rights has been greatly aided by grassroots movements, which have mobilized communities and increased public awareness of the significance of equitable voting procedures.

Act on your rights and get out and vote! You’re read­ing The Brief­ing, Michael Wald­­­­­man’s weekly news­­­­­­­­­let­ter. Click here to receive it in your inbox. The freedom to vote had a big moment last week. It was not about how citizens should vote in 2024, but what might happen in 2025. It was a rousing affirmation that could lead to sweeping reform — and may signal a momentous fight ahead.

The Freedom to Vote Act would guarantee early voting and vote by mail, establish automatic registration, ban gerrymandering, bring disclosure to dark money in elections, and strengthen public campaign financing and safeguards against election... The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the strength of the Voting Rights Act after it was gutted by the Supreme Court. This package would be the most significant democracy reform in two generations. It would strike a blow for racial justice. It would strengthen our system of self-government to better represent the people of a changing, growing country.

H.R. 1 and H.R. 4 came within two votes of enactment in 2022. Now it is clear that bold democracy reform is at the center of the public agenda going forward. Last Wednesday in Chicago, the Brennan Center and Democracy SENTRY held a conversation on voting rights in 2025. Hundreds filled two rooms.

We heard from Rep. Joe Morelle, the ranking member of the House Administration Committee, and Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois. We heard from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, one of the country’s foremost election officials. And we heard from top civil rights leaders Maya Wiley of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Damon Hewitt of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and Marc Morial of... By Michael Bilfinger, AACRAO Assistant Director of Public Policy

Democracy is a system of government in which the state draws its power and legitimacy from the consent of its citizens. There are many different variations of democracy, and the U.S. employs a representative democracy in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf as opposed to directly voting on issues, as some states do in referendum votes. While not technically part of the definition of democracy, certain institutions, such as the freedom of speech and press, are critical to a democracy's function because they directly support the citizen's ability to consent... For a democracy to be healthy and just, all members of society, both those in the majority and in the minority, must buy into this idea of citizenry consent and uphold these virtues. Voting in a democracy is critical because it is the most direct avenue that citizens can use to express consent, the basis for their government's legitimacy, and influence laws and priorities.

In the 2020 presidential election, 66 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, according to the Pew Research Center. This was the highest U.S. voter turnout rate in a national election since 1900, and yet it still pales in comparison to the turnout rate in many other developed democracies. Additionally, voter registration and turnout in the U.S. is not equal across all populations. For example, the estimated voter registration rate for Asian Americans is about 9 percent lower than it is for whites, and for Latinos, the gap is roughly 13 percent, according to National Public Radio.

The impacts of this can be seen on election day. For instance, 43 percent of eligible white adults voted in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 elections, whereas only 21 percent of eligible Asian Americans voted in all three and only 19 percent of eligible... Furthermore, current evidence from the Brennan Center of Justice suggests that these disparities in voter turnout have been consistently widening since 2012 after having been on a downward decline since the civil rights revolution... All the while, polling by Gallup in June 2024 found that only 28% of Americans are satisfied with the way democracy functions, a historic low. But why care? With voter registration trends seemingly worsening and a general feeling amongst the public that voting doesn't actually lead to change, why bother voting?

Simply put, because of the enormous impact the federal government can have on your daily life. For example, in FY 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) has thus far spent over $160 billion dollars, more than half of which $85.2 billion, went to federal direct student loan programs (source). This money ultimately went to higher education institutions, many of whom wouldn't exist without this funding lifeline. Additionally, as of January 2024, the Department holds $1.5 trillion in federal loans for nearly 43 million borrowers, according to the Government Accountability Office. For comparison, the largest banks in America, J.P.

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