The Fight To Vote Essay

The Fight to Vote Essay
Many women and African American men had long dreamed to have the right to vote. In many states, they could only vote if their state allowed them
the privilege. The dedicated men and women fought for their right to vote in the Civil Rights Movement in the early and mid 1900s. Congress passed
the Fifteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act to give African Americans the rights to vote. It would have not occurred if the Civil Rights
Movement had not taken place. The Nineteenth Amendment would not have occurred either if not for the Civil Rights Movement. The freedom to
vote is now held by a majority because of the fight by the people involved in the Civil Rights Movement, and the African Americans and women who
fought for their right to...show more content...
(Carter n. p.) According to UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, founded by Martin Luther King, Jr.,
planned the march. (Benson, Brannen, and Valentine, 1639) Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged Christian morals, liberty and nonviolent resistance.
(305) Recorded in the History Reference Center Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, and John Doar struggled to remove the discrimination of blacks
from voting. (Wermiel n. p.) Issues and Controversies in American History states that Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Candy Stanton put together the first
women's suffrage movement and fought for women's rights to vote. (Kauffman n. p.) Although a hard time for many people, the Civil Rights
Movement became essential for voting equality. The African Americans dealt with a major amount of torture throughout their fight for the right to
vote. Stated in the book, Selma and The Voting Rights Act, although Abraham Lincoln declared the slaves free with his Emancipation Proclamation, the
Thirteenth Amendment made slavery unlawful. The Fifteenth Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1870, gave voting rights to all male citizens
of any ethnicity. (Aretha, 11) According to History Reference Center, it also made it illegal to deny a person the right to vote because of their race.
(Wermiel n. p.) Selma and The Voting Rights Act mentions that in 1876, theUnited States Supreme Court ruled that the Fifteenth
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Do Your Vote Count? Essay
Clarissa Anaya
English 9, Vikki Paul
7 November 2016
Do Your Votes Count? The phrase "Make your voice heard and vote!" is always being tossed around. What they people don 't know is that your voice
isn 't always heard. Your presidential vote doesn 't really matter because of theelectoral college. They make the choice of what your state wants. What
you want! People are being silenced for whom they want to become president and believe they are living in a county with a democratic government.
And with the removal of the electoral college, we can be heard.
What is the electoral college you may ask. According to Oxford dictionary, the electoral college is; "(in the US) a body of people representing the
states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president." You may then ask, "but don 't i vote for the election
of the president and vice president? The electoral college is a group of chosen electors that vote for whom they see fit as being our next president
and vice president. Their votes are then counted by Congress. Each state has a certain number of electors. For example california has 55 while alaska
has 3. In all, it is made up of 538 electors. How they're chosen is political parties nominate electors at their state conventions. The electors are usually
state–elected officials, party leaders, or people with a strong affiliation with the Presidential candidates. The state will then need a majority of 270 votes
to elect the

Essay On How To Vote
What resource will be most helpful to you as you decide if and how to vote? How can you help prepare others for election day?
I have really already established a set of values and wants that I would like to be able to see in a representative, but just as Black wrote about being
overcome by the ballot, I also felt I was unprepared for the long list of elected offices on the ballot. I recognized some of the names on the ballot, but
other than that it was a guessing game. The resources that will be most helpful when I go to vote again will be learning more about each candidate and
their positions, learning actual government offices and what the job entails, and creating a priority list. During the next election depending on the type of
race,...show more content...
We have to remember that politics are complex and the government has already solved the easy problems and we must accept the complexity of
the process, Black says. By knowing this we can honor God by doing our best to listen to our neighbors and be understanding like he would want.
The government depends on compromise and the ability for each representative to not only express their views but listen to others who oppose
them. We must learn to listen to our neighbors to be able to create a society that is great in the eyes of God. One must be prepared to debate over
issues they believe are right and wrong, but never stray away from your own personal beliefs and values just because someone does not agree. Black
says to look outside of politics to help address problems such as in your church or in your family. She says, "Model Christian values in your family, and
set a positive example for others" (Black 197). She states that we should honor and respect your public officials because most are dedicated public
servants trying to do their best to make a difference. Finally, Black says instead of criticizing political leaders we do not agree with, we should pray to
God for their

Essay On Voting Rights
Without a doubt voting rights have grown since their first implications in the beginning of this democracy. In the beginning the only person who were
able to vote and be part of the government were white protestant male. However, that would of course change after the Voting Rights Act that was
signed into order by President Lyndon Johnson that would remove discriminating factors used on African Americans due to the fact that it was
unconstitutional under the firth–teen amendment. Some of the discriminating factors that were used were laws passed on by the jim crow laws that
included literacy test, or trick questions that had to be answered as well as poll taxes all which kept the lower class and minorities from having a vote in
what they believe in. However, minorities were not the only ones left outside of the voting precincts women would also not have the right to vote until
the women's suffrage movement that would lead into the 19 Amendment which gave everybody a right to vote regardless of gender. Although, this
was a merely 90 years ago in the 1920's which is a considerable small amount of time considering our form of government isn't that old. Even with
all these ratifications of forming new laws to make everything equal regardless of race and gender there are still a problem with voting in today's age
although the problems rely more on the technology being used, the access into the polls, as well as a variety of choice in nominees
There has been various problems with

Should Teens Be Allowed To Vote
Should teens be allowed to vote ? There are different responses to this. The article "Takoma Park 16–year–old savors his history making moment at the
polls" by Annys Shin published on Nov. 3, 2013 shows different sides about teens being allowed to vote. The article indicates that some individuals
believe that teens should be allowed to vote while other don't believe that they should. After reading the article and seeing the pros and cons of students
voting one can infer that it won't be a good idea for students to vote. Many people agree that teen should be allowed to vote, but why. Teens are still
young kids who still are not matured enough to help shape the world. They are not at the age to vote. Being able to vote for them will seem like a joke.
They won't take it seriously. If teens are allowed to vote many won't even take time and think about what is the best decision for them. Think about
it this way as a teen when a teacher would tell you to make up your mind if you wanna see the movie the Lion King or Home Alone. A teen will talk
it out with their friends and their vote will be influenced by others. They will raise their hand to the one the friend chooses. Well same as voting their
vote won't really be accurate of what they think. They won't know who to vote for and will just vote on what a friend is voting for. Teens are still too
young to vote.
Teens are not matured enough. Yes there are student who at the age of 16 and 17 are like adults, but in reality

Why Is It Important To Vote Essay
"Give Me liberty, or give me death!" These words were spoken by late Governor Patrick Henry, a man who understood the meaning of liberty
(source). Liberty is what defines our United States. It is the responsibility of we the people to protect our liberty. We protect ourselves by choosing
our own leader, not a king or a ruler, but a President. President, is a title concluded by the founding fathers of America. This title represents the chief
has been elected by us the people. Electing a president is a responsibility of each citizen of the United States. We must all vote to elect the president
that stands for us as a nation. The votes are first cast by each citizen known as the popular vote, later the electoral college votes in concord with the
...show more content...
Those who want to vote must be a citizen whom is over eighteen, and meets the eligibility guidelines. Guidelines may change depending on the state
you are located in. There are many places where one can register to vote such as the local DMV. Registration is mandatory to cast your vote on the
ballot. A ballot is used to cast your votes on.
Poles are locations where registered voters may vote. As a voter, you are choosing the candidate who wins the popular vote. The popular vote is a
count of each individual vote. This The candidate who receives most votes wins the popular vote. These votes are then given to the electoral college.
The electoral college cast the formal vote, in agreement with their state. Although, the electoral college usually votes with the majority they may vote
for any candidate they choose. The individuals of the electoral college represent each state. 100 Senators, 435 state representatives, and 3 votes for the
District of Columbia, make up the electoral college. The 435 votes consist of 3 for each state, and the rest are in ratio to the population.
The overall voting process is only 3 steps. Starting with you becoming a registered voter, the population voting, and the then the electoral college
voting. This 3 step processes insures the votes are aligned with each state's needs in electing the

Voting Behavior Essay
Less than 50% of eligible voters will turn out to vote at national elections, and at the local elections there are less than 25%. There is a correlation
between voting behavior and the demographic of those voting.
Typically, people ages 30 to 65 have been the most likely to vote in the past years. This is in great cause due to this age group being the most
politically active. People in this group are more likely to have established homes, steady jobs, and part of the community. They have stronger incentives
to be involved in what can affect their lives.
Younger people ages 18– 24 have been less likely to vote in the past due to lack of interest, money, or time to go. Also, they just had a lack of
information so they just didn't care to have...show more content...
Women have exceeded the turnout rate of men in presidential elections since 1986. They believe that this is due to the prominence of issues important
to women, such as abortion, education, and child welfare.
When it comes to race we have come a long way for voting rights. Since the voting barriers have been eliminated the African American citizens vote at
least as often as white citizens with the same economic status. African Americans are more involved in politics than other minorities in the US and
have the highest level of voter registration and participation. The Latinos only average about 49% of eligible voters to vote. One of the big problems
for them is the language barrier, but with the Latino population increasing there is a rise of Spanish campaigning being done alongside the English.
Religion is a big motivator for whether or not people are voting. When there are big issues on trial that go against your beliefs there is a greater desire
for you to voice your opinions and be heard. Voters that identify with Christian rights have a higher turnout rate and vote more frequently since there is
almost always a religious issue up for

Why People Vote Essay
Objective 5. Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.
A. Describe three major reasons why people might choose to vote. 1. they see policy differences between the parties on issues that concern them 2.
they have a high sense of political efficacy 3. they vote out of civic duty
B. What other conditions contribute to low voter turnout? Also look at "America in Perspective" to answer this question. –the requirement of voter
registration
–voting occurs more often than in other countries
– Americans are expected to vote for a much wider range of political offices
–little incentive to vote (consequences of the vote are not that great)
–voting occurs midweek (most people are working)
C. What was the 1993 Motor Voter Act?
...show more content...
C. What are the three most important dimensions of candidate image?
Integrity, reliability, & competence
D. Based on what you read in the section on "Policy Voting," assess how easy it is to be a policy voter today.
It is very easy to be a policy voter today because presidential platforms are no longer clouded with ambiguity. Through the Electoral College system,
candidates are now forced to take clear stands on issues in order appeal to their own parties' primary voters. Voting by policy can be easily
accomplished today due the incentive of candidates to be straightforward about their policies.
Objective 7. Explain the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the President.
A. How would you explain to a person desiring citizenship how the electoral college works?
The president is determined is not from popular vote, but the Electoral College, which is a form of indirect democracy. In the Electoral College, each
state has a body of electors equal to the number of the state's senators & representatives who vote for the President and Vice President on behalf of the
public. Following the November election, electors meet in their states to mail their votes to the VP (who is in charge of the

Why It Is Important To Vote Essay
This year's topic is, "Why is it important to vote?" . It is very important to vote in the kind of government that we, as citizens of America, are involved
in. Our type of regime requires that we vote. In American policies, we have democratic and republican parties.Because we are involved in this type of
government, we have the liberty to choose our government leader, and other offices, through voting. Because our direction depends on voting, it is
important to do so. Voting allows the citizens of America to make their voices heard. In 1776, we declared our independence from Great Britain. Our
founding fathers decided to have a government that allowed us to choose. They died for us so that we could vote, which allowed us to have the freedom

Essay About Registering To Vote
The process for registering to vote may sound complicated since not everybody is devoted to politics. However, registering to vote is actually not
as complicated as it seems. Many people do not realize that registering to vote brings more benefits such as to serve jury in a court and to elect the
representatives of the country. The biggest benefit it can bring is that it allows people to become engaged in politics. To begin with, if a person is not
familiar with the different methods available to vote than the internet should be used as a vital tool to research information. The internet offers a
variety of resources to guide a person in the process of registering to vote. After searching a person can find the multiple formats...show more content...
A person will receive a registration certificate, that will include a precinct number that would notify one in what area they can vote. A person's
residence is located in a specific precinct within the county where you are designated to vote on Election Day. The day you go to the polls to vote,
one must show an acceptable form of photo ID. There seven types of Photo ID that can be presented to vote such as a Texas driver license issued by
the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS, Texas personal identification card issued by DPS,
Texas license to carry a handgun issued by DPS, United States military identification card including the person's photograph, United States citizenship
certificate containing the person's photograph, and a United States passport. An election official will match your name to the official list of registered
voters. If one loses their certificate, one must let their county Voter Registrar know in writing to obtain a new one. One is going to automatically
receive a new certificate every two years. (Vote Texas.Gov, n.d., retrieved March 19,

Voting Essay
Voting is a right that has long been fought over; it has taken countless reforms, amendments, and societal changes to make our country's great
democracy what it is today. The time has come again to make a much–needed reform in voting policies by lowering required age. Sixteen–years–olds
should be permitted voting status for numerous reasons including their access to the same rights as older adults, previous success this policy has
carried in other areas, and the full cognitive and reasoning development in these older teens.
To start off, sixteen–year–olds are permitted nearly the same rights as older voters in every case except for voting. According to an article on teen
voting, "People under age 18 have the ability to win a Nobel Prize,...show more content...
"In 2013, Takoma Park– a small, progressive enclave in a suburb of Washington, DC – became the first city in the US to lower its local election voting
age to 16. In Takoma Park, the turnout rate for 16– and 17–year–olds not only exceeded that of every other demographic in the city's 2013 and 2015
elections, but nearly quadrupled the overall average." (Crockett) Because of the age requirement decrease in this area, votes increased significantly.
Contrary to popular assumption, younger teens value being represented. Moreover, other countries have implemented this process with great success;
"Internationally, at least 20 countries allow citizens under the age of 18 to vote. In Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, and Nicaragua, 16–year–olds regularly
contribute to the electoral process. In Greece and Indonesia, 17–year–olds can vote in national elections, and in Israel they have the right to vote in
municipal contests. Recently, 16–year–olds in the Scotland election had a 75 percent turnout rate – higher than voters three times their age." (Crockett).
Through this evidence, it is obvious to see that lowering the voting age would be a step in the right direction for this country's democracy.
Certainly, some critics would contend that teens are immature and uneducated about electoral processes and do not have sufficient skills to make
critical decisions, but they are ignorant to the fact that their claim is not

Why Is Voting Important
Voting is very important to us American citizens for many reasons. One reason why voting it significant is because it is our duty as Americans.
Allowing us to vote is giving the citizens a voice for laws and bills to become illegal. Also, voting lets us be a part in making important decisions
within your community and our country. It is an honor for us to vote because voting can be life changing. Voting comes with many responsibilities,
and knowing your issues and representatives. When it comes to small communities voting is imperative for people to get many different changes in
their small towns. Voting is also a privilege and can be taken away from citizens. It is our right to vote as well as expressing our freedoms. If you do
not vote you

To Vote, Is That Really A Question?
To Vote or Not to Vote, Is That Really a Question?
Are students properly informed in political areas? The question abounds while adults worry about weather students will vote for political views or
weather they just agree with Bruce Springsteen. Astin says that "A democracy works only to the extent that the voter is well informed"(Astin 97).
Astin believes that the only way to have a properly functioning democracy is to have informed voters. This is the question of the day, why people
vote, weather its for actual political views or for the sole purpose of agreeing with someone else.
For the most part students that want to know about political views are fully aware of the goings...show more content...
Another problem with today's elections is the candidates. While I'm, not saying that this ever was the case, neither of the candidates' people look at In
this election are just great men. Both of the men have made mistakes, and have poor records, weather its Kerry's war protests or Bush's poor
reasons to go to war. The problem is that in today's media the voter doesn't hear everything they need to know about the issues, because as Astin
knows all too well "Negative campaigning rules"(Astin 96). In today's elections its not a battle of who has the political opinions that match the
voters', but who has lead a less malignant lifestyle. Presidential elections should be about the issues, while Bush's war in Iraq seems to be all a
load of crap that he initiated for cash, and he supposedly has so many monetary ties with the Bin Laden family, yes I've seen Fahrenheit 9/11 and
Michael Moore has created an atrocity that rotted every cell within my brain. I believe the war was a good thing, if nothing else to keep terrorists off
of American soil. The terrorists that threaten America weren't just going to take a break and wait for us to respond, we needed to take action, and
Bush took action. While people say he had improper motives I think he had a good one, and that was keep them

Register To Vote Essay
Register to Vote
To vote in a federal election in the U.S., U.S. citizens need to be registered as most American states require citizens living in the state to be registered
to vote. Only U.S. citizens can cast their votes and this privilege is not meant for green card holders and others nonimmigrants.
One can register to vote if, he or she is a U.S. citizen and if they meet the residency requirements of the states in which they are living. They need to
be 18 years old. Some states allow those who are 17 to register. So they will need to check their state's voter registration age requirements.
Visit Vote.USA.gov to register to vote online. U.S. citizens living in 31 Americans states and the District of Columbia can register to vote online. The
others who cannot register online can download...show more content...
citizens who wish to vote need to find out their respective state's registration deadline and make sure they are registered to vote.
It is important for all U.S. citizens to update their voter registration information including their name and address before an election.
The name and address they provide while registering to vote must match the one on their voter ID cards or other identification documents they are
planning to use at the polls. If necessary, they will need to get a new voter ID card.
U.S. citizen can vote in federal elections but it is important to register to vote. If they had been living in another American state and if they have moved
to a new state. They must re–register in their new state, even if they had registered in the other state in which they were living. Likewise, they cannot
be registered in two places. When an American registers in a new state, the election office will ask his or her old address and send a cancellation form
to their previous election office.
Those who are temporarily away from their legal residence, like students, military members and people on business trips or vacation, can use the
absentee ballot to cast their

The Pros And Cons Of The Right To Voting
As citizens of the United States, individuals have the ability to participate in their government. In various countries, political outcomes are more
controlled and their citizens have little to no say in government decisions. In the U.S. however, as part of a representative democracy, citizens eighteen
and older are granted the right to elect politicians to represent them. From local, to state and then on to the national level, voters may partake in elections
. Although U.S. citizens have the right to vote, as displayed in the low voter turnout, many American voters do not exercise this right due to an array of
reasons.
In more recent national elections, of the registered voters, only about sixty percent actually participated in the election by casting a vote. Various
aspects affect voting turnout. Some people are more likely to vote than others because they are registered. While in other democratic countries
citizenship automatically enables people to vote, the U.S is one of the few world democracies that require registration for individuals who wish to vote
(Black). Those that are not registered may be less encouraged to participate in an election. Although some may argue that registering to vote is a
process that requires only a few steps, numerous amounts of individuals fail to take the first step, thus they do not end up voting (Black). Another
aspect that affect the likelihood of an individual voting include conflicts in schedules. In the U.S., elections are held on

Should Felons Have The Right To Vote Essay
Should Felons Have the Right to Vote?
Millions of Americans lose the right to vote due to past felony convictions. While majority of Americans have completed their sentence, they are still
not afforded the opportunity to vote. In some states voting rights of felons are terminated all together while other states allow felons who have
completed their sentence to regain their voting rights. Felon disenfranchisement is not being allowed to vote after committing a felony. Felon
Disenfranchisement takes a toll on our society by placing limits on the amount of possible state votes, and discontinues voting rights in some states. A
vast number of citizens believe that felons should not have the right to vote. Felony disenfranchisement places limitations on representation for election
votes which affects the final decision on votes. "In fact, 75 percent of disenfranchised voters live in their communities, either under probation or parole
supervision or having completed their...show more content...
Constitution does not allow excessive sanctions. It also calls for punishment that is suitable for the offense. If all felons are excluded from voting
would go against this amendment. To employ this practice would cause a violation of our Eight Amendment right. All citizens should be allowed to
vote to refrain from violating this right.
Furthermore, ex–felons should be allowed to vote because it would help them while being re–introduced into society. The criminals would learn the
value of the law to strengthen their participating in common practices. Even prisoners would come to respect the law and contribute to the "common
good" with voting rights. It would be helpful for these individuals because they would be able to become important to society rather than a menace.
Criminals would benefit our society more if they are treated equally for their contribution of voting rather than as an

Should 16 Year Olds Be Allowed To Vote Essay
According to Franklin D Roosevelt, "Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and
the only way they could do this is by not voting". (Brainyquote). The right to vote allows the people to have a say and a voice on society and the
people who run it. However, many say young Americans do not understand or care about politics and should not have an opinion on who runs the
country. Lowering the voting age to 16 in the United States will help today's youth; 16 year olds are old enough to make educated decisions and have a
strong voice on this nation's current issues. Initially, 16 year olds should be allowed to vote because they show they are mature young adults. In today's
society, teens show maturity in their...show more content...
They believe they should have an opinion, yet they do not According to Fair Vote, "Denmark found that 18–year–olds were far more likely to cast their
"first vote" than[sic] 19–year–olds, and that every month of extra age in those years resulted in a decline in "first vote" turnout. Allowing 16– and
17–year–olds to vote in local elections will enable them to vote before leaving home and high school, and establish a lifelong habit of
voting."(Fairvote).Furthermore, students are engaged in political discussions and arguments everyday in school. In high school students start to
understand government and realize what is happening in society. As a student, teens are taught to have an opinion about the world around them.
Society contradicts what they are teaching by denying voting for young Americans. Denying teens the right to vote is not only unfair, it is violating
their 15th Amendment right. The 15th Amendment states, The right for U.S citizens to vote cannot be denied by State or Federal Government
(Claveau). This clearly states that the right to vote shall not be denied to any citizen. While the constitution may say

Make A Change: Vote Essay
Many people keep complaining about how the government is a complete failure, but if you do your part and vote, you can make a change in the
government system. Voting is your opinion on paper that could make a change in America on how a leader runs this country.
Americans should have the ability to vote and voice their opinion but a lot of us do not take advantage of freedom of speech. It is our responsibility
as citizens to elect officials that we feel will be honest. These officials need to help make our country better and a safer place. We Americans hope that
all individuals will take the opportunity to vote and not just sit back and complain about who is in office. Around voting season, you can only vote one
time, so it is very...show more content...
Failing to vote is just like your saying that you do not care. When you registering to vote that mean you believe in the candidate you are voting for to
make that change. It also means that you believe in your rights to freedom of speech.
By voting tells candidates that they must back up what they promise to do to help make our nation a better place to live. It also allows issues
addressed by citizens concerns on different issues in their state and communities. Going to the polls on the day to vote shows a good example for your
children, friends, family, and neighbors.
Old people are the most reliable voters for this country. They have the highest percentage of voters of any age group because they know candidates
will focus on Social Security and Medicare. However, young people do not like to vote they think it is a waste of time. They are focused on
college, social life, and cars, etc. If a lot of young people show up and vote, the politicians will get the message that young people have a voice just
as much as the old people. Politicians are going to spend a lot of time on issues that are important to older people, like Social Security, Medicare,
retirement, and health care. Younger voters 18–24 year–olds, are very low in numbers when it comes to voting, so it is easier for politicians to pay less
attention to the issues that are important to young people. The government is in charge of making important

Right To Vote Essay
The justification for the laws that prevent convicted felons the right to vote is that since they have committed a felony, they should not have the right
to vote. Voting may be a right for U.S. Citizens in this country. However, once you commit an act of crime, that right will be taken away which is
referred to as "disenfranchising convicts". The disenfranchising of convicts is justified because since they have committed a crime, they lose some of
their rights voting being one of them. If a criminal commits a crime, there is prison which serves as punishment for the criminal act. Since prison must
be a punishment, criminals do not have the right to vote because they have not abided by the laws, hence their right to vote as they once saw it,...show
more content...
However, since they chose to commit the crime, I do not believe there is much effect with taking away voting rights from offenders. According to
Nonprofitvote.org, when offenders serve the sentence that was appointed to them, their voting rights get restored to the offenders depending on their
state of residency. Although that is not the case in four states, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, and Virginia, in which they can only be restored when the
individual files an application to the government. In some states offenders restore their right once they are completely done with their sentence and
parole, while others don't even lose their voting right while incarcerated such as in Maine and Vermont. No, I do not believe that taking away the right
to vote from an offender contributes to the labeling of ex–offenders. The labeling of offenders will always exist whether or not they have the right to
vote. A sex offender will always be known as a sex offender, a murderer as a murderer and so on. Just because the justice system decides to give or to
take the right to vote from offenders, will not contribute unfairly to the labeling of

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The Fight To Vote Essay