Dear Dub: What Your Mom Didn’t Tell You About Your Voting Rights

Who cares about voting rights and the importance of voting in the United States? Well, honestly, you should. The right to vote has evolved over centuries within the United States. From the initial standard of land-owning white males to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the suffrage movement has been, and continues to be, never-ending. Although the provisions set over the decades were intended to implement effective policies and standards to allow historically marginalized groups of people vote, there are still vast disparities in voter turnout and representation. These disparities are not among affluent white Americans but, rather, the historically marginalized groups of people that policies, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, were intended to protect.

This, in part, is due to intentionally racist barriers set by states that involve photo-identification requirements, racially motivated redistricting, restrictive voting laws for felons and former convicts, among other things. This means that a significant portion of the population is left out of the voting process and, thus, their voices are suppressed. Furthermore, this means that those people do not have a say in public policy matters and this, on a large scale, can create an affluent white bias in American public policy. 

In other words, this means that American public policy can disproportionately benefit affluent white Americans due to the disparities in voter turnout. This concept can be demonstrated through a study of Latin American countries from 1960-1982, in which the shift to free elections led to an increase in spending on things such as education and welfare. Therefore, it is clear that those who vote are able to influence public policy, and those that do not vote are not able to influence public policy.

So, what is one easy way that you can help close the gap in voter turnout? Register to vote! Studies have shown that registering to vote will drastically increase the likelihood to vote. Depending on the state, you may need to register up to a month before the election in order to be eligible to vote. Therefore, it is important to check the regulations regarding voter registration deadlines and absentee ballots in your state. In New York, for example, you need to register to vote either by mail, in person, or online at least 25 days before Election Day. However, this becomes a little trickier in terms of voting in primary elections. Some states have open primaries, meaning that any citizen of the state is able to vote in the primary regardless of party affiliation, and some states have closed primaries, meaning that you must be a registered member of the party in order to vote in the primary. Therefore, it is important to look into your state’s rules regarding voting in primary elections and requesting an absentee ballot, if necessary. Primary season is rapidly approaching, and you can easily access more information through USA.gov. 

In a political atmosphere that feels more dismal by the minute, voting and advocating for fair voting rights are some of the most influential and important things you can do to keep democracy alive. Voting is an imperative and integral part of any functioning democracy, so make your voice heard and influence public policy that, in many ways, affects our daily lives –and the lives of so many others– by exercising your right to vote.