This is the latest (and final) first attempt in what will hopefully be a number of blogs on voting. So, to begin with, let me say that my point in this first blog is to convince you that voting shouldn’t be an option, but rather a responsibility of citizenship in the United Sates of America. While I have certain thoughts on how to vote, the real point here is TO vote, and that’s what our conversations will be about. I have voted for both Republican and Democrat candidates and am currently registered as one of the two major parties so I can vote in the primaries. (My state requires party affiliation to vote in primaries.)
Part of the reason for this blog is to learn from each other, which we can do if we’re open and respectful to each other. The fact is that, unless someone is shifty and manipulative, we’re all doing the best we can.
What people usually talk about is their rights as citizens, and we have a list of rights which are envied by most of the world. The first Amendment to our Constitution covers the rights of hearing from a free press, the right to worship God as we choose, and the right to protest peacefully. There are many more, but our rights are just the beginning. It’s the responsibilities I’m concerned about here, not the rights we should so appreciate1. A little history lesson is fitting here.
The only men created equal enough to vote from the beginning of our nation were white landowners, as they were apparently the only ones with unalienable rights. Some states required land ownership, but others did not. The rest of us needed brave generations past to fight for and establish our rights. The rights being discussed here are basic rights, such as the right to own land, or be considered a US citizen. Until the 1970s it was difficult for a woman to have her own credit card and bank account. But the most basic of rights is to be a citizen of the US, and to have the right to vote. Only free white men could become free citizens, the rest of us needed three Constitutional Amendments to vote.
In 1870, the 15th Amendment was passed giving black men the right to vote. It was meant to give African Americans full rights, but failed to do so due to the rights of individual states to restrict voting by requiring poll taxes, literacy tests, land ownership requirements, etc.
The next expansion of voting rights came with the 19th Amendment. In 1920 Congress passed and states ratified the 19th amendment. Following states ratification, the Amendment gave people the right to vote regardless of their sex. After years of suffrage, women were finally given the right to vote. Again, the right to vote was granted to white women since the poll taxes, etc., were in place to stop African-Americans to vote.
Finally, the 26th Amendment gave those 18 and over the right to vote. Ratified in 1970, I remember the conversations were about how, if you were old enough to die in battle, you should be able to vote for the man sending you to war.
Congress impacted the right to vote in other ways, too, primarily by deciding who could and couldn’t be considered for citizenship. Until 1919, Native Americans couldn’t be citizens when they gain citizenship, but only if they served in the military and gave up their tribal affiliations. The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 gave Native Americans the right to full citizenship, though some states continued to fight Native American’s rights to vote.
In 1882 the Chinese were denied the right to citizenship, as were the Japanese in 1922. Filipinos were barred from citizenship unless they served three years in the Navy as stewards and cooks, and then reupped for another four years2. Some southern states withdrew the rights of Latinos to vote in 1848.
More recently, immigrants who want to choose citizenship serve for a year in the military before being able to take the citizenship test, decreasing the time between moving here and taking the test. This has been a popular path to citizenship, though President Trump’s Administration held up processing until sued to allow immigrants’ papers to be filled out and filed3.
Voting, as you can see, has been a tough road to acquire. Why, then, do we get huffy and decide not to vote because “what’s the point?” The point is that you are a citizen of our country, and if you whine and complain about how the politics are carried out, or even feel thankful for some programs, you need to vote for what you want to see. It’s simply isn’t much to ask that every four years we make time to read about what’s being proposed, who will actually do what they say, and who will keep the country on course. People are still struggling for the right to vote in some circumstances, try to take time to enjoy your responsibility and right to vote.
Next blog covers what the point of politics might be. I’d love to know what you think! (Just remember we are being civil. I honestly want to know what you think, we should talk in a way that allows everyone to be heard. (If not, there’s always “delete.”)
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1 While technically a responsibility, many people have worked hard to earn what is seen as the right to vote, currently causing concern to some that the right is being taken away because some feel a need to “protect the vote.” immigrants are trying to vote, something which has been shown to be exceedingly rare, even in states trying to restrict voting by claiming it’s a problem. Many immigrant voters have voted after becoming naturalized, making them legal to vote.
2 Have you noticed how ways to inhibit voting tend to be based on whether or not we’re the right ethnic background. Do you think it’s right?
3 I can’t help but feel shame that we needed immigrants to fight in our wars, but after given the promise of expedited citizenship, our government deserted them. There are some who fought in the war, and the Department of Defense information holds led to some immigrants being deported to the country of their birth before acquiring citizenship. I don't think it is being naïve to insist we keep our promises to those who do what we ask.