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The Importance Of Voting Rights In A Democracy

Leo Migdal
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the importance of voting rights in a democracy

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! “Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean?

And what does it mean for Americans in particular? Typically in the United States, national elections draw large numbers of voters compared to local elections. A History of Voting in the United StatesToday, most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in federal and state elections, but voting was not always a default right for... The United States Constitution, as originally written, did not define specifically who could or could not vote—but it did establish how the new country would vote.Article 1 of the Constitution determined that members of... The president, however, would be elected not by direct vote, but rather by the Electoral College. The Electoral College assigns a number of representative votes per state, typically based on the state’s population.

This indirect election method was seen as a balance between the popular vote and using a state’s representatives in Congress to elect a president.Because the Constitution did not specifically say who could vote, this... In most cases, landowning white men were eligible to vote, while white women, black people, and other disadvantaged groups of the time were excluded from voting (known as disenfranchisement). While no longer explicitly excluded, voter suppression is a problem in many parts of the country. Some politicians try to win reelection by making it harder for certain populations and demographics to vote. These politicians may use strategies such as reducing polling locations in predominantly African American or Lantinx neighborhoods, or only having polling stations open during business hours, when many disenfranchised populations are working and unable... But even so, many would-be voters faced artificial hurdles like poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures meant to discourage them from exercising their voting right.

This would continue until the 24th Amendment in 1964, which eliminated the poll tax, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended Jim Crow laws. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the long efforts of the women’s suffrage movement resulted in the 19th Amendment.With these amendments removing the previous barriers to voting (particularly sex and... Later, in 1971, the American voting age was lowered to 18, building on the idea that if a person was old enough to serve their country in the military, they should be allowed to... history.In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case (Bush v.

Gore). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes. Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 2000–2008.More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a... Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided a tight race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes... Most states have a “winner take all” system where the popular vote winner gets the state’s electoral votes.

There are also local and state elections to consider. While presidential or other national elections usually get a significant voter turnout, local elections are typically decided by a much smaller group of voters.A Portland State University study found that fewer than 15 percent... Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful.How You Can Make Your Voice HeardIf you are not yet 18,... citizen, you can still participate in the election process. You may not be able to walk into a voting booth, but there are things you can do to get involved: Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life.

Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights. Explore the profound significance of voting as the cornerstone of democracy, empowering citizens and guiding the future of society. Voting is a fundamental process in a democratic society, allowing citizens to choose their representatives and directly participate in governance. It is the primary mechanism through which individuals express their preferences and influence the direction of their communities and the nation. This act ensures government remains accountable to the people it serves.

Through voting, citizens directly determine who holds political office at all levels of government, from local municipalities to federal legislative bodies. These elected officials are responsible for proposing, debating, and enacting laws, regulations, and public policies. A vote directly influences the legislative agenda, impacting decisions on government spending, regulatory frameworks, and the overall direction of governance. The choices made at the ballot box shape policy outcomes, as elected officials are more likely to enact policies aligning with the preferences of those who elected them. This direct link between voter choice and policy implementation shapes the nation’s legal and administrative landscape. The policies enacted by elected officials have a tangible and direct impact on citizens’ daily lives.

Decisions made at local, state, and federal levels affect important areas such as education quality, healthcare access, and infrastructure like roads and public transportation. For example, local school board elections influence curriculum standards and school funding, directly affecting educational opportunities. Federal policies can determine the scope of healthcare programs or tax rates, influencing personal finances and access to essential services. These political decisions shape the quality of life within communities, demonstrating how a vote translates into concrete changes in everyday experiences. Elections serve as a primary mechanism for holding elected officials accountable for their actions and decisions. Citizens can re-elect officials who have effectively served their interests or remove those who have not met expectations.

The prospect of re-election encourages politicians to be responsive to their constituents’ needs and concerns. This electoral accountability ensures representatives remain mindful of public opinion and strive to implement policies that benefit the electorate. The ability to “throw the rascals out” provides a powerful check on power, incentivizing leaders to perform well and align with the public’s will. 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. Morgan, and Chase had roughly $1.3 trillion in net loans on their balance sheet for 2023 (source). 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.

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