Voting is a way to ensure that our views and opinions are being heard. It is one of the few ways Americans can express their political views and vote for the party that best suits their interests. Voting is a privilege that many countries are unable to take advantage of. Because of our freedom to express ourselves through voting, many laws and rules have been passed that may have otherwise been overlooked. Not only is voting a collective approval or disapproval of a person or a proposal, but it also converts many individual desires into a logical and collective basis for many important decisions. The participation in political groups, referred to as social capital, is necessary for democracy to exist. Social capital also brings people together to address concerns and issues important to individuals. .
At one time, voting was a dream that our ancestors desired. They fought a war of independence for this and for democracy in general. After the War of Independence, voting was only available to white males. Since then all adult citizens have been given the right to vote. Three important amendments were passed to guarantee all adult citizens the right to vote. The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments were passed after the civil war to guarantee African Americans the right to vote and the nineteenth amendment gave American Women the right to vote. The nineteenth amendment also gave women equal opportunity rights in the workforce, laws against sexual harassment, and equal pay laws. There were many citizens that fought and died for the privilege of voting. Sadly, only 50% of citizens vote, and only 80% of registered voters turn out for elections. Although restrictive registration laws may yield a low voter turnout, it is important to remember that we as Americans should recognize and exercise the rights we have been granted.
Political power is another important reason why Americans should vote.