Informational Articals - Voting - Voting Rights
Voting hasn’t always been a right that individuals have been able to take advantage of. Even in the very early days of voting it was restricted to white males over 21 who owned property and belonged to certain religions. This type of voting wasn’t the fairest as you can imagine those from the elite social groups often held the same views.
African Americans and women did not have the right to vote until much later. Even then there were plenty of restrictions and loopholes to prevent them from doing so. They were legally allowed to vote but society prevented them from doing so. For example women were only allowed to vote with the permission of their husbands. African American’s weren’t allowed to vote if they were a slave or if they were illiterate.
The Voting Rights Act was introduced by the Federal government in 1965 to ensure that everyone understood their rights when it came to this very important issue. In most states anyone who is 18 years of age and a legal citizen of the United States is eligible to vote. There are exceptions though including those who have been convicted of a felony and those who have been declared mentally incompetent in a court of law.
According to the Voting Rights Act no one is exempt from voting based on their race, sex, religion, or their economic status. Since these issues have all been in place throughout history it is important that they do not apply to voting. This is because voting is supposed to allow each individual their voice in a democratic environment. It is said that the Voting Rights Act is the most important law that covers civil rights. It has encouraged people all over the United States to exercise their right to vote.
As a result of the Voting Rights Act there has been an increase in voters from various areas that would not have happened without it. The number of African American’s who register to vote has increased by 57% from 1965. The number of individuals from poor economic areas has also continued to rise. They are taking the time to vote in order to be a part of the outcomes for their society.
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