My Right to Vote

My Right to Vote

“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.” Lyndon B. Johnson

Introduction

In the United States, one of the most cherished rights is the right to vote and participate in government. Voting is considered as both a right and a responsibility as a citizen. The very core of democracy is to elect the representatives through the voting power. Our democracy is rooted in the principle of free and fair elections wherein every vote can be casted by every eligible citizen. I believe that it is one of the basic national rights of people of all nations that they can exercise their voting right for leaders who would run their government. Otherwise stated, rather than having their leaders chosen for them without their will or having their leaders decided by birth, all people should have the right to vote in free and fair, and open elections for the sake of choosing government representatives of their own choice.

I feel myself being privileged for having the right to vote as a number of people have fought, forfeited their life and their freedom to gain their voting rights. Moreover, there are certain countries in the world, like People's Republic of China and North Korea, where among other freedoms and rights, people also do not have the right to vote for their leaders; and thus, they have no voice in their governments. Through voting, I express my opinions, and help in determining the future of my country. If I do not exercise my voting right then I do not have the right to complain about leadership or about increasing corruption or lack of job opportunities in the States. In case of non- exercising of vote, I would be then considered as only a spectator watching things unfold. In this paper, I seek to cast light on “My Right to Vote”, and why should I exercise this right, along with a brief overview of voting and the factors influencing right to vote in elections.

Discussion

It's My Constitutional Right to Vote

Surprisingly, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly provide right to vote; however, it basically assumes the existence of right and asserts that a person cannot be denied the right to vote due to his race, age, or sex. The 15th, 19th and 26th amendments to the U.S. Constitution prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex and age respectively. Disenfranchisement is also barred by the 24th Amendment via poll taxes. However, these granted protections are like a house without any foundation. States can and do disenfranchise groups of citizens and individuals, and it is entirely legal as long as they carry out it without provable bias. Federal laws, like the state laws and the Voting Rights Act also protect the right to a certain extent. In fact, the right to vote is largely controlled by state ...