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Eligibility to vote in the United States is governed by the United States Constitution and by federal and state laws.
- There Was No Right to Vote in The Original U.S. Constitution.
- The Current Political Climate Endangers Federal Voting Rights Protections.
- Until Congress Acts, States Must Step in to Protect Voting Rights.
The original Constitution doesn’t have much to say about the right to vote. Indeed, nowhere in the text does it explicitly say that citizens have the right to vote in elections. Instead, it merely states that anyone eligible to vote for the largest house of a state’s legislature is also eligible to vote for members of the House of Representatives f...
The ability of the federal government to protect voting rights, particularly for racial and ethnic minorities, has been jeopardized both by recent Supreme Court rulings and the failure of Congress to enact new voting rights legislation. The VRA has been the primary tool to enforce voting rights in recent years and was reauthorized with overwhelming...
With the federal government and the Supreme Court unlikely to protect voting rights in a substantial way in the near future, it’s up to the states to take action to protect voting. We previously outlined some steps individual states can take, like removing barriers to voter registration, making casting a ballot as easy as possible and passing a sta...
Oct 26, 2022 · But the Constitution contains no explicit right to vote. Rather, the Supreme Court has recognized an implicit right to vote via the 14th Amendment, enacted in 1868 after the Civil War,...
Sep 13, 2021 · With the ratification of the 23rd Amendment, residents of D.C. could vote for the Presidents. Under the 23rd Amendment, the District of Columbia receives three electoral votes for President regardless of population. This was no more than the smallest State. They still do not have the right to vote for a Senator or a Congress person.
- Don Royster
- 2020
Voting rights have expanded and contracted—through landmark legislation, constitutional amendments, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions—throughout history, reflecting the evolution of the American democratic project and ultimately embracing the diversity of the electorate.
- Mindy Johnston
In the U.S., no one is required by law to vote in any local, state, or presidential election. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the creation of the Voting Rights Act extended and strengthened voting rights. But there are no laws making voting mandatory for U.S. citizens.
People also ask
Do Americans have a right to vote?
Is voting mandatory in the United States?
Does the Constitution have a right to vote?
Should voting rights be protected under a state constitution?
How do federal laws govern voting rights?
When did Americans get the right to vote?
Aug 22, 2024 · Federal laws govern voting rights. Learn about the laws and how they protect your rights and make it easier for you to vote. U.S. election laws date back to Article 1 of the Constitution. This gave states the responsibility of overseeing federal elections.
