Who Should Have the Right to Vote?
Created October 12th, 2020 by Justin Hodge & Briana Tetsch
Framing Statement
Who should have the right to vote? While the question may sound simple, the answer may be more complex than you expect once you dive into the details. Voting laws differ state by state and as a result, so does who has the ability to exercise the right to vote. The purpose of this toolkit is to provide information on how varying state laws impact who can and cannot vote as well as the implications of these variations. The toolkit will also provide prompts for dialogue on these issues that focus on social justice and political action. We hope that the discussion prompts will inform the audience, probe reflection, and facilitate analytic thought about voting rights and voter suppression.
To begin, we will turn to resources that broadly explore who has historically and currently has the right to vote:
Multimedia:
Whose Vote Counts, Explained | Full Episode | Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio | Netflix
Text:
Who Can and Can't Vote in US Elections Links to an external site.
Right to Vote Amendment Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- Do you consider voting to be a privilege, right, or duty? Why?
- Have you made a plan to vote in this election? If so, what is your plan? If not, why not?
- Should voting laws be left to the states to the extent that they are now or should they be determined at the federal level?
Now we will take a deep dive into several topics that influence who has the right to vote. This toolkit covers the following topics:
- Felony Disenfranchisement - Some states prevent those who have been convicted of a felony from voting while some allow those currently incarcerated to vote.
- Barriers to Voting and Disenfranchisement of Individuals with Disabilities - Many states create barriers to voting for Individuals with disabilities and some completely eliminate their ability to vote.
- Lowering the Voting Age - Some states have lowered the voting age to 16 years old for local and state elections.
- Non-citizen Voting - Some states allow local governments to grant non-citizens the right to vote in local and state elections.
These topics further the mission of the Democracy & Debate Theme Semester by facilitating dialogue about the complex issue of marginalized groups not being full participants in our democratic society. We encourage you to share these resources and explore arguments and viewpoints that differ from your own.
Felony Disenfranchisement:
Multimedia:
Florida's disenfranchised: voices of the 1.7 million not allowed to vote | US elections 2016
Could Ex-Felon Voting Rights Swing Florida In 2020?
In Florida, path to restoring felons' voting rights has been fraught with challenge
Why Virginia's Restoration of Voting Rights Matters
Text:
Felony Disenfranchisement Laws (Map) Links to an external site.
The state of ex-felons’ voting rights, explained Links to an external site.
Felon Voting Rights Links to an external site.
The 'Slave Power' Behind Florida's Felon Disenfranchisement Links to an external site.
Two activists on fighting for ex-felon voting rights in Florida Links to an external site.
How to Vote From Jail Links to an external site.
When Prisoners Demand Voting Rights Links to an external site.
Voting in Jails Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- Should individuals convicted of a felony lose their right to vote? How about those convicted of a misdemeanor? Once taken away, should it ever be restored? If so, under what conditions?
- Should individuals currently incarcerated have the right to vote? Should there be limits on the offices and proposals that they can vote on? Why or why not?
- Discuss the concept of “civil death” and the notion that felony disenfranchisement laws are rooted in racism.
Barriers to Voting and Disenfranchisement of Individuals with Disabilities:
Multimedia:
Why Americans with disabilities struggle to vote
Text:
How Voters With Disabilities Are Blocked From the Ballot Box Links to an external site.
Voting | Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law Links to an external site.
Thousands Lose Right to Vote Under 'Incompetence' Laws Links to an external site.
Keeping the 'Mentally Incompetent' From Voting Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- Should accommodations be made available to support individuals with disabilities with voting? If so, what kinds of accommodations? If not, why not?
- Do you believe that a disability should preclude someone from voting? Why or why not? If so, who should be responsible for making that determination and what factors should be considered?
- What impact do you believe the disenfranchisement of individuals with disabilities has on our government and politics?
Lowering the Voting Age:
Multimedia:
Why the Voting Age Should Be Lower Than 18 | NowThis
These 16-Year-Olds Are Campaigning for the Right to Vote | Eighteen x 18 | NowThis
Change the Voting Age to 16 | Camille King | TEDxHarwoodUnionHighSchool
Text:
Lower the Voting Age for Local Elections Links to an external site.
The case for letting children vote Links to an external site.
The case for allowing 16-year-olds to vote Links to an external site.
Why We Should Lower the Voting Age to 16 Links to an external site.
Young people have a stake in our future. Let them vote. Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- Should young people have the right to vote? Or should the right remain exclusive for adults?
- What factors should be considered in determining the voting age?
- What do you believe the voting age should be? Should it be lowered or raised? If so, how low or how high?
Non-citizen Voting:
Multimedia:
Non-Citizens Given Right To Vote In San Francisco School Board Elections
Non-citizen voting debate
Text:
The Curious History of Non-Citizen Voting Links to an external site.
Spring 2019 Journal: Noncitizen Voting Rights in the United States Links to an external site.
Opinion | Noncitizens are gaining the right to vote. Good. Links to an external site.
Voting by Nonresidents Links to an external site.
Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States Links to an external site.
Questions & Prompts:
- Do you believe that non-citizens should have the right to vote? Why or why not? Should the right be restricted to certain elections?
- Do you believe that giving non-citizens the right to vote diminishes the value of citizenship? Why or why not?
- What does “citizenship” truly mean to you? Should there be consequences for those that do not conform to upholding its meaning?