Voting Rights

The 15th Amendment was enacted in 1870 and gave all men, specifically African American men, the right to vote. In many ways, this Amendment felt like a massive step forward in humanizing blacks as citizens of the United States.  However, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act took steps to reduce voter suppression and prohibited states from using literacy tests and other methods of excluding African Americans and other targeted groups. 

Voting Today

Did you know that before the 1965 Voting Rights Act, only 23% of voting-age blacks nationally were registered to vote? By 1969, this number jumped to 61%. The struggles of voter registration and the right to vote across black and brown communities continue today, as evidenced by the 2013 Supreme Court overhaul of the Voting Rights Act. According to the nonpartisan coalition Election Protection, 23 states created new obstacles to voting in the decade leading up to the 2018 elections. So, as you begin to reflect on the importance of voting, consider two essential factors: the history of voting and evidence of systemic governmental failures, where the needs of a few are considered more than the fundamental rights of many. 

Voting Leads to Change

We must use our voices to speak up on matters of importance. There is no such thing as the “perfect” candidate, but the risk of the wrong person winning as a result of not voting is too great! When we vote, our collective voice has power. But who wins when we relinquish our rights?

  • 2008: 63.6% of the population voted. Black voter turnout 65.2% compared to 66.1% of whites 
  • 2012: Black voter turnout was 66.6% compared to 64.1% of whites
  • 2016: 61.4% of the population voted. Black voter turnout 59.6% compared to 65.3% of whites

The black vote matters.

The Call to Action

  • Register! Contribute! Share! 
    • Use the link provided (here) as a one-stop-shop for all things VOTING! You can check your Voter Registration Status, Register to Vote, Review State-Specific Voter Guidelines and Updates, and even get involved at the poll through volunteer shifts. 
  • Make it Count! 
    • If you have not done so already, please respond to the Census questionnaire provided (here) by September 24th. This process takes 2 minutes or less to complete! 
  • Why is the U.S. Census Important? The Census intends to provide a complete and accurate account of the population. ‘An accurate count of the population serves as the basis for fair political representation and plays a vital role in many areas of public life.’  To learn more about how the Census helps drive policymaking and shape the United States’ future, click (here).