One legacy of slavery is that our Constitution does not contain an absolute right to vote for all citizens who have achieved the age of majority. (Photo: Michael Fleshman/Flickr/cc)
This Election Proves the Need for a Right to Vote
America needs a 28th Amendment that establishes an absolute right to vote for all citizens who’ve achieved the age of majority.
America needs an absolute right to vote, like most other major democracies.
One legacy of slavery is that our Constitution does not contain an absolute right to vote for all citizens who have achieved the age of majority.
Our property rights are totally intact. If the government wants to take away your house or your car because, for example, you didn't pay your taxes, they have to go to court to do it.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
Our gun rights are strong. If the government wants to take away your guns, they have to go to court and prove their case in front of a judge.
Our marriage rights are solid, at least until Amy Coney Barrett weighs in on the Supreme Court. If a government official tries to deny you a marriage license, that person can be sued or, in some states, even go to jail.
Our free speech rights have been so expanded that the Supreme Court has ruled that if billionaires want to buy politicians, that is totally legal and considered "free speech."
Our right to due process is still respected in America. If the government wants to put you in jail, they have to go before a jury of your peers and prove their case.
Voting, however, is not and never has been a right in America. Which is why the largest part of the Republican election strategy this year has been to prevent people from voting, and to try to block their vote from being counted after it's been cast.
Because we do not have a right to vote, the Postmaster General can delay your ballot without worrying about going to jail, and Republican politicians across the country can pass laws making it harder and harder for you to vote or have your vote counted.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
America needs a 28th Amendment that establishes an absolute right to vote for all citizens who've achieved the age of majority. While we're working on that, we need laws that assert the right to vote in such emphatic language that courts can enforce it and reverse decades of Republican voter suppression.
Only then can America call itself a functioning democratic republic.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
America needs an absolute right to vote, like most other major democracies.
One legacy of slavery is that our Constitution does not contain an absolute right to vote for all citizens who have achieved the age of majority.
Our property rights are totally intact. If the government wants to take away your house or your car because, for example, you didn't pay your taxes, they have to go to court to do it.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
Our gun rights are strong. If the government wants to take away your guns, they have to go to court and prove their case in front of a judge.
Our marriage rights are solid, at least until Amy Coney Barrett weighs in on the Supreme Court. If a government official tries to deny you a marriage license, that person can be sued or, in some states, even go to jail.
Our free speech rights have been so expanded that the Supreme Court has ruled that if billionaires want to buy politicians, that is totally legal and considered "free speech."
Our right to due process is still respected in America. If the government wants to put you in jail, they have to go before a jury of your peers and prove their case.
Voting, however, is not and never has been a right in America. Which is why the largest part of the Republican election strategy this year has been to prevent people from voting, and to try to block their vote from being counted after it's been cast.
Because we do not have a right to vote, the Postmaster General can delay your ballot without worrying about going to jail, and Republican politicians across the country can pass laws making it harder and harder for you to vote or have your vote counted.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
America needs a 28th Amendment that establishes an absolute right to vote for all citizens who've achieved the age of majority. While we're working on that, we need laws that assert the right to vote in such emphatic language that courts can enforce it and reverse decades of Republican voter suppression.
Only then can America call itself a functioning democratic republic.
America needs an absolute right to vote, like most other major democracies.
One legacy of slavery is that our Constitution does not contain an absolute right to vote for all citizens who have achieved the age of majority.
Our property rights are totally intact. If the government wants to take away your house or your car because, for example, you didn't pay your taxes, they have to go to court to do it.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
Our gun rights are strong. If the government wants to take away your guns, they have to go to court and prove their case in front of a judge.
Our marriage rights are solid, at least until Amy Coney Barrett weighs in on the Supreme Court. If a government official tries to deny you a marriage license, that person can be sued or, in some states, even go to jail.
Our free speech rights have been so expanded that the Supreme Court has ruled that if billionaires want to buy politicians, that is totally legal and considered "free speech."
Our right to due process is still respected in America. If the government wants to put you in jail, they have to go before a jury of your peers and prove their case.
Voting, however, is not and never has been a right in America. Which is why the largest part of the Republican election strategy this year has been to prevent people from voting, and to try to block their vote from being counted after it's been cast.
Because we do not have a right to vote, the Postmaster General can delay your ballot without worrying about going to jail, and Republican politicians across the country can pass laws making it harder and harder for you to vote or have your vote counted.
Taking away our votes should be as tough a job for Republicans as taking away our homes or our guns.
America needs a 28th Amendment that establishes an absolute right to vote for all citizens who've achieved the age of majority. While we're working on that, we need laws that assert the right to vote in such emphatic language that courts can enforce it and reverse decades of Republican voter suppression.
Only then can America call itself a functioning democratic republic.