African Americans Be Required To Vote

Education is a noticable factor to consider when examining voter turnout. Those who are less educated about politics and their rights don't vote because they simply don't understand the imporatance of their vote in the first place. The more interested a person is in politics obviously the more likey they are to vote. Wealthier people are connected and constantly encouraged and reminded that their vote is important by community leaders and politicians. They also feel as if they have more at stake when it comes to taxes and public services, therefore they feel they have more reasons to vote. Whereas people with lower incomes are underepresented, disappointed and feel like nothing seems to change, the rich just gets richer and the poor gets poorer. The same applies for the age difference amoungst voters. Older people are more politically invovled than the younger voters.

At www.washingtonpost.com, they reported that thirty-five percent of people who didn’t vote, didn’t as they couldn’t get time off from work or leave school. If these people had to vote, they would have to have time off to do so, allowing more people to vote. However, there is another reason to make voting required for all United States citizens. Currently, U.S. citizens living in any territory of the U.S., can’t vote. This includes notable territories like Washington, D.C., American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but includes all. Also, felons can’t vote in various states. ww2.kqed.org reports that up to six millions Americans will not be able to vote due to felon disenfranchisement laws. If all U.S. citizens had to vote, it could pave the way for getting voting rights to these

Voting is a right that is given to all citizens by the 15th Amendment of the Constitution. Although the 15th amendment was ratified in 1870. It was not until The Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed that African Americans got to exercise their right to vote under the 15th amendment at the state and local level; which overcame the legal barriers that existed at those levels that was in place to prevent African Americans from voting.

Voting rights have been intertwined with every part of our history. The fight for the right to vote started evolving before the American Revolution and hasn’t completely stopped. Due to taxation and ruling from King George of England, many colonists were upset with how they were living in the new colonies. They wanted freedom from a king and independence so they could choose how to live. But the American Revolution did not bring as much freedom in government as the people may have hoped. The creation of the Constitution, and the then Bill of Rights, enabled the people to have the limited government they desired. It did not include policies for social welfare and justice, but it was open to be edited in the future. When certain policies, like voting, where brought to people’s attention, cultural differences impacted how some people voted throughout history. The founding fathers were smart to leave the Bill of Rights amendable. Through amendments

One day you'll sit down and wonder how did we get here, when did this happen, and why did this happen the way it did, and you will not be able to figure it out, because you decided not to vote, not to let your voice be heard. It is critical that we as African Americans become a well-informed group of individuals, and understand what we should vote for or what we should stand up for. Specifically being an African American it is important to vote because it is not only our right but our duty, for our predecessors fought for years for this right as did many others. Because we were not seen as equal, we were not given the same rights as our Caucasian counterpart. We live in a world where are given the right to vote and we have come a long way so, let our voices be heard. Our government, this democracy we live in does not dictate what we should and should not be allowed to believe.

As an African-American, our population has suffered from unequal opportunities for centuries. Even in today’s society, we are still faced with adversities that have to arise against our population. Madison, I feel that you discussed your discussion post capture that pivot point. Before the voting rights act of African American weren’t allowed to vote because they were seen as property, not as humans. Although the 15th amendment passed in 1869 African Americans still had to fight for their rights to vote. For that, I am glad that they did because they made it possible for me to vote today.

There were multiple events that helped change the laws against African American voting rights, such as the march from Selma, which led the voting rights act. The voting rights were also part of the civil rights movement. In the march from Selma to Montgomery, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and other members of the the soul force led multiple marches to get the voting rights law passed and to help with segregation overall. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis changed racial history. Their efforts and the march from Selma had a significant impact on the United States.

Voting in a democratic country is one of the various ways to let the people have a say. It wasn't until 1870 when the fifteenth amendment was passed permitting African American men to vote regardless of nationality or origin. Later again in 1920 when the nineteenth amendment was passed, allowing women to have a say in the elections. Throughout history, people fought for the rights to speak concerning what they believe. The first amendment states that Congress shall make, "no law abridging the freedom of speech or the press." being qualified to vote is considered freedom of speech. Americans should not be required to vote because compulsory voting would interfere with the consent of the governed, worse than good would come out of forcing citizens to vote in elections they want no part of, none intellectuals will be

Two factors that influence voter turnout more so in the United States than in other countries are education and income. Those who are college-educated and receive higher incomes are much more likely to vote than those with less education and lower income. The gap is narrower in European countries because of the presence of social and labor parties not present in the United States where there is not a clear working class party. Lower income citizens are also more likely to suffer from the registration system and lack transportation to and from the polls (Patterson

When Washington was delivering the Atlanta Exposition he claimed that “according of the full exercise of political rights is going to be a matter of natural, slow growth, not an over-night [Sic] gourd-vine affair”. However, Du Bois believed that it was necessary to agitate and upset to gain voting rights for African Americans, essentially believing that their freedom and their right to vote had to be explosive and upset the social order. Through political power, Du Bois felt that economic security and material gains could be achieved. But Washington opposed the direct militancy of Du Bois. Washington made the point that the militancy would only serve to upset the whites in the south, which in turn would limit African American voting rights. Much of their differences in suffrage can be understood through their respective backgrounds. Washington was a former slave, so his experiences later affected how he viewed voting. His subservience to his ‘masters’ as to not upset or cause unnecessary violence is apparent in his pragmatic and slow evolving voting ideals. While Du Bois grew up in a white European neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, relatively secluded from the Jim Crow Laws of the South. Du Bois’ self proclaimed elitist attitude, reveals the most important difference and reasoning between him and Washington on the matter of the need for African American suffrage. Du Bois, from experience, knew that suffrage in the north was a far more attainable goal after the Civil

Why are voting rights important? The voting rights act of 1965 was made so that there was no racial discrimination in voting. In other words, race, color, religion, or sex didn’t matter in the process of voting. This piece was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the American Civil Rights Movement on August 6, 1965. In 2013, the supreme court issued support in Shelby County v. Holder. This made it easier for minorities to be discriminated against. Republicans in Congress, as well as in states across the country, have gone out of their way to make it more difficult for minorities, the elderly, and young people to

Why is it important to express your thoughts by voting? That is a question that most adolescent and even adult Americans ask. There are many reasons to vote for one the most important roles and even the small things like who is going to be your mayor. Most Americans probably forgot what the learned back in the 7th and 8th grades in American history. So, let me give a refresher, many American men and women of all races and ethnicities fought for your right to vote. Some, even died in the process. One the most well known fighters for women’s right to vote was Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906). She thought, like any other woman, that everyone is created equal and the she and all other women should be able to vote. In conclusion to that, many fought

Two demographic characteristics associated with voting are age and level of education. Statistics show that the older one is, the more likely they are to participate in voting and other government-related processes. However, in the hustle and bustle of young life, many young people do not vote. Now, with there being more young people than elders, this often relates to low voter turnout. Similarly, those with higher levels of education are more likely to vote than the under-educated. Now, think of this: America is filled with impoverished people that do not have high levels of education. In addition, the US has college as a necessity priced as a luxury; many people simply cannot afford this higher education and (like my friend Ryan) think "I won't vote because I don't know enough to do it."

When a person turns eighteen they acquire the privilege to vote yet, some people don’t use this right to the full extent. Why is that? I believe that if a person has the privilege to vote that he or she should use it. In one point in history not everyone got the chance to vote. This included females and African American individuals. These Americans had to protest and fight to earn this privilege. They were not the only ones that fight for this privilege, veterans sacrifice their lives everyday just so that we can be free and have a chance to vote. Many people choose not to vote because they believe that their vote won’t count. If everyone believed this there would be no one to keep the country in order. In many countries they don’t get to

In today’s society all American Citizens of any race, ethnic background, religious belief, and sexual orientation have the privilege to vote. What is sad about it is that they chose not vote. The power of voting in society is a privilege that most of us take advantage of. Why is it that we complain about having bad governors, presidents, and unwanted laws, and still chose not to vote? Do we not understand that we do have a voice and can use it to make our lives better? At one point in time, both men and women fought for their right to vote, because they had no voice. Was it worth the fight if we don’t utilize the privilege and opportunity that was given to us?