In a society supposedly governed as a representative democracy, perhaps the most fundamental right held by its citizens is the right to vote.
The foundational stricture of democracy – government by and for the people – widely is regarded in America as the basis for a functioning, fair and equal society. However, this ideal has failed to become a reality from the birth of the United States to the present day. In order to realize its dream of equal opportunity, America must work to enfranchise marginalized communities into our political framework by securing the right and ability to vote for all.
At the inception of our country, the Constitution delegated the power to set voting requirements to the states, most of which limited suffrage to property-owning white males.
