Voting In America Essay

Voting is a verb we as citizens of the United States of America do in order for change to happen. Whether it’s a new proposal or the next individual in office we decide. In the United States alone there are more than 200,000,000 citizens that are able to vote but during the last presidential election only 57% of citizens voted. It’s important to have an understanding about the type of government we abide by and vote for. The history of voting and how it has affected the united states as a whole is essential to know. Three historical events that showcase how voting has evolved is the ⅗ Compromise, 19th Amendment, and 26th Amendment.

The ⅗ Compromise was created during the time the Constitution was being constructed. What was being debated

This Amendment allows United States citizens who are 18 or older who are eligible to vote. Like mentioned previously, during the beginning of the 20th century mostly white males 21 or older could vote. It wasn’t until July 1971 that the ratification of lowering the voting age was passed into law by President Richard Nixon. During World War II the consideration for lowering the voting age to 18 wasn’t really thought of. The idea that if you were old enough to serve for the United States you were old enough to vote during a federal election. According to an article on History.com the quote is used to describe this thought, “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote.” This quote became popular during the second world war in support of youth voting rights. Also, from another section in the article on the 26th Amendment on History.com President Nixon is quoted saying, “The reason I believe that your generation, the 11 million new voters, will do so much for America at home is that you will infuse into this nation some idealism, some courage, some stamina, some high moral purpose, that this country always needs.” President Nixon stated this after this bill was turned into a law in 1971 at the White House in congratulations to all the new voters the United States had gained. This amendment allowed anyone who was eligible and 18 or older to vote in local,state, and federal elections. From a whole new age demographic to the amount of new voters with new ideas helped influence the history of voting in many