Who can and cannot vote?

“The vote is precious. It is almost sacred.” — John Lewis. Many individuals including youngsters and adults dream of their country to be a better place in the world. They can avail the power of voting rights to elect the leaders who can handle their country effectively and bring prosperity to their nation. Therefore, if these individuals want to improve their nation, it is crucial for them to understand voting rights. In this informative piece, we will review voting rights, who can and cannot vote, and more on how it has evolved so far in the U.S.

Moving on, let’s investigate the individuals permitted to vote. People who aren’t permitted to vote include: non-citizens, legal permanent residents, someone being convicted of a felony crime, people under 18, people with mental disabilities, and U.S. citizens residing territories. Why can’t they vote? Well, non-citizens and legal permanent residents cannot vote because the U.S. believes the people who are officially part of the country shall help their leaders, not non-official residents. According to Carnegie, “Voting is a right given only to U.S. citizens because it is a way for them to help choose the leaders of their country.” People who have been convicted of a felony cannot vote unless the state gives their voting rights back.

Residents under 18 are not allowed to vote because they are not considered mature enough to make such important decisions. People with certain mental disabilities may not be allowed to vote if they cannot understand how the election works. U.S citizens living in territories cannot vote for the President, but they can vote in local elections in their territory.

In the past many people were not allowed to vote. Initially, American women did not have the voting rights. They got these rights only after the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920. According to Fighting for the Vote in The U.S. Constitution Then and Now, “The 19th Amendment finally gave women the right to vote after many years of fighting for equality”. Native Americans were not considered as the citizens of the U.S. therefore they could not vote until the year 1924. Kiddle notes, “Native Americans became U.S. citizens in 1924, which allowed them to vote”. People not owning the property were not given the right to vote in the early years. African Americans were not allowed to vote due to the injustice towards them by imposing poll taxes and literacy tests despite being the citizens. The Carnegie voting rights timeline explains, “Many states used literacy tests and poll taxes to stop African Americans from voting” Amendments made it possible for these laws to pass.

However, over time, voting rights have transformed through several important laws and amendments. For example, the 15th Amendment of 1970 granted the African men the right to vote. Then, the 19th Amendment of 1920 gave American women the right to vote. In addition, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 made it illegal to stop the people from voting due to their race. According to Carnegie, “The Voting Rights Act was a landmark law that helped make elections more fair for everyone”. These changes show how the U.S. has worked to make voting fair and equal for all its citizens.

Today, voting rights in the U.S are granted to citizens who are at least 18 years old and have registered to vote. However, non-citizens and most people in prison cannot vote. In addition, voting rules vary by state, but the main goal is to make elections fair and safe. As Kiddle explains, “Voting is a way for citizens to take part in democracy and influence the government, but rules exist to protect elections and ensure fairness”.

Voting rights play a vital role in American democracy. Over time, more and more people have been allowed to vote, which makes elections fairer for everyone. By learning about voting rights, people can help protect democracy and make sure everyone who can vote has a chance to be heard. As history shows, “The fight for voting rights has been long, but it is essential for a free and fair society”.