By: Faith Forster

Managing Editor and Graphics Editor  

On Feb. 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. It stated: “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.”  

Though the language of the amendment to the Constitution sounds like it was to include everyone, it only extended to men of any background. It wasn’t until the ratification of the 19thth Amendment in 1920 that women were then included in the voting population. Even then, it wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that it prohibited all forms of discrimination throughout any election. 

As seen, voting was once inaccessible to most of the population. Now that the majority can vote, we are able to indirectly show our gratitude to those before us, who paved the way so that all the citizens of the United States could vote. 

The American democracy that is standing now is built on the foundation of the social contract. The social contract is where an individual agrees to follow the laws that govern society, in exchange for their protected rights, though those rights don’t necessarily protect everyone. It is in voting that people’s voices join and become a force that forces the democracy to listen. 

In voting, whatever candidate you align with most could help fix the issues you have in your communities. It is through voting that your opinion can be known by who you choose to vote for. These elected officials are the ones who can help use the votes of the people to enact different policy decisions, giving your vote the power to help change your community. 

Anyone who votes plays a role in who represents the people, no matter what level of government. Your voting expresses your own needs and helps the government identify what the people truly want in their society. All votes count. 

Those who are in elected office look to those who do vote, not those who don’t. The frequency with which you and your community vote directly affects the life of your community. It happens to be that people between the ages of 18-24 have the lowest voter turnout; therefore, those voted into office are generally those that people 25 and up vote for. 

Voting has an important part in the U.S. system of government. If you don’t like how the government is running, voting is what can change that. Even one person’s vote can change the tide. If you choose not to vote although you are eligible to, then you simply have no right to complain if those who are elected don’t have the same ideology as you. 

If you haven’t registered to vote, there is always another election in the future. The following is the list of your eligibility to vote:  

1. If you are a U.S. citizen (a natural-born citizen, a U.S. citizen living outside the U.S., or a dual citizen),  
2. A holder of a photo identification (state- or federal-issued photo ID, Georgia’s driver’s license, Student ID from a public college or university, valid employee photo ID, a valid U.S. passport, a U.S. military photo ID, or a tribal photo ID),  
3. You are 18 years old on or before Election Day,  
4. And you are registered to vote.