Its election season again, so here is some history on the evolution of voting rights.

Originally, the United States Constitution shed very little light on voting and voting rights. The powers and prohibitions of The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, only applied to the federal government. So, state governments had broad sweeping power to deal with voting however they desired. This led to restrictions based on race, sex, intelligence, wealth, and other unfair and immoral ideals.

After the civil war, the Constitution was amended and ratified. In June of 1866, The Fourteenth Amendment passed and has since restricted states from infringing on individual rights. This was a big step toward equal voting. The 14^th Amendment states,

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." U.S. Const. amend. XIV.

Next came the 15^th Amendment, which states, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” U.S. Const. amend. XV.

Too many decades later, in June of 1919, came the 19^th Amendment, securing the voting rights of women. “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” U.S. Const. amend. XIX.

In July of 1971, three days before Independence Day, the 26^th Amendment was passed. It states, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.” U.S. Const. amend. XXVI.

Throughout our history men and women have fought, and even died, to secure our right to vote. Nearly 200 years span from the founding of our country to the 26^th amendment. The freedom we enjoy today was only a dream to some in the past. That is why we should all go to the poll! This very important element of our society helps maintain our freedom and ensures representatives answer to a higher power… THE PEOPLE.

Vote your morals, your conscience, vote however you see fit… just make sure you VOTE!