Photo credit – Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images
It’s crazy how at one point, minorities and women in this country literally FOUGHT for voting rights and in 2018, we treat it like it’s not important to us. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, voting was only for white men who owned property. It wasn’t until nearly 60 years later that men and women of color were able to exercise their right.
If you have an “I don’t care about politics attitude,” you’re apart of the problem! Hopefully, with everything happening in the news, you have a change of heart and realize the power is within you. Did you know that we are STILL fighting for voting rights!
Six million Americans with felony convictions are not allowed to vote. These tax paying citizens can’t vote due to state-level disenfranchisement laws. Florida has one of the strictest laws, leaving 1 out of every 10 citizens barred from voting.
In North Dakota, where a majority of Native Americans reside on reservations only have a PO Box, the US Supreme Court is requiring voters to bring an ID with a residential address. This will be a challenge for the residents without the proper identification, because it may not be enough time before Election Day.
Voters in some states like Georgia, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Kansas, are dealing with restrictive voter ID laws. For example, in Georgia, your ID must match the name on the voter registration exactly or else they won’t let you vote. In New Hampshire, the state is forcing voters to show proof that they live in the place where they are voting. In Missouri, they are confusing voters, making them think they need an ID with a picture on it but an identification without a photo is fine.
As you can see, our ancestors fought for our right to vote and there’s still work that needs to be done. They put up the hardest fight, and it’s up to us to not let them down. Our rights could be stripped away again, with new tactics, if we don’t act now!
Election Day is 5 days away!