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The History of Voting

Posted on November 3, 2020November 14, 2020 by Vianca

The right to vote is a natural right, one that can’t be taken away by the government unless convicted. Some U.S. citizens don’t have an interest in voting or think it’s a waste of time. They don’t realize the importance of voting. Citizens went through a lot to have the right to choose their representatives.

The First Three Steps

There are three major amendments that gave every citizen an equal right to vote. The first one being the 15th Amendment, which was ratified in 1870. This amendment protects voters from being denied to vote because of their race, color, or former slave status. This meant that black men over the age of 21, were allowed to vote. The second important step was in 1920 when they ratified the 19th Amendment. At the time, women were not allowed to vote in federal elections due to the Women’s Suffrage Clause. The 19th Amendment allowed women that were 21 and older to vote in federal elections. The 26th Amendment, which was ratified in 1971, lowered the age requirement for voting from 21 to 18 years of age. 

The Benefits of Voting

There are many misconceptions about voting. Many think that their vote doesn’t matter. But that’s not true. Your voice matters more than you think. When you vote you choose the leaders that represent you and your country. Without these leaders, we would not have a say in elections or on bills being passed. Voters elected Barack Obama as their president in 2008. He made Obama Care to provide is affordable healthcare for people with low income. Obama also cut the unemployment rate from 10.4% to 4.7% in a span of six years. The leader of our country has a very big impact on all of us, so we have to exercise our right to vote for what we believe in.

The Process

There are many different ways to vote, but most people vote on Election Day in person. On Election Day, voters typically enter private booths to cast their votes. After casting their vote, the ballot is scanned and placed in a secure box until everyone votes and leaves. These boxes are collected from each site and sent to the Board Of Elections. The Board uses memory cards that scanned the ballots, to count them. The counties complete their official canvas, which is the final vote count. If it is a large county, the ballots get sent in helicopters to the state electoral college. The college counts those ballots and the state representative votes in the Congress Electoral College based on the majority.

How To Sign Up For Voting

There are multiple ways to register for voting. The first is going to Vote.gov and voting there. You can also go download the  National Voter Registration Application and fill out the form. Then, you mail it to the location depending on your state. Lastly, you can request the ballot by mail from the state government to mail your ballot. Your voice matters, so make sure to vote if you are eligible!

Sources

What are the six amendments that have to with Voting?

28 of Barack Obama’s Greatest Achievements

Why is voting turnout so low in the U.S?

Voting Election Process

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