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Women win the vote
During this time women still were only able to vote in a handful of states. After years of organizing and activism, women nationwide finally won the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. -
The Voting Rights Act passes Congress
Congress passed the Voting Rights Act that included provisions that required states and local jurisdictions with a historical pattern of suppressing voting rights based on race to submit changes in their election laws to the U.S. Justice Department for approval. -
Congress passes the Help America Vote Act
Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002 with the goal of streamlining election procedures across the nation. This law placed new mandates on states to replace outdated voting equipment, create statewide voter registration lists, and provide provisional ballots to ensure that eligible voters are not turned away if their names are not on the roll of registered voters. The law also was created to make it easier for people with disabilities to cast private, independent ballots. -
Presidential election and claims of fraud
After President Trump was elected despite losing the popular vote, he and his supporters made claims that large numbers of people voted illegally. Adding to the problems, the government at all levels has largely failed to make the necessary investments in elections for efficiency. -
Voting rights groups prepare for the 2020 Census and redistricting
In the same way that partisan interests and those in power have used voting rights laws and policies to suppress the vote, they also have attempted to use the U.S. Census and the subsequent congressional redistricting process to advance their political goals. There is a well-founded belief that it will result in an undercount of already underrepresented populations, including low-income populations and people of color. -
Changed Most
I believe that the fact that everyone is now able to vote has changed the most. In the past, only white men were allowed to vote which caused a lot of controversy. Now everybody is allowed to vote. This is the biggest change because it affects the whole country. -
Compromise
Manchin’s compromise bill includes a few other ideas that voting rights experts favor. These include a requirement that voting machines produce a paper ballot for every vote, and limits on when election officials can be removed from office. -
Right or Wrong Direction?
I believe that America is going in the right direction as they are making it easier for citizens to register and vote as well as a requirement that voters be required to show government-issued photo identification before voting. However, there is still a long ways to go. -
Prediction
It is very hard to say what will happen in the future as this topic is very controversial. I do believe that in the future the ways to vote will continue to become much easier. As people's opinions about politics continue to grow, I believe that more people will want a say in their government. -
Citations
Voting Rights: A Short History: Voting
Carnegie Corporation of New York
https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/voting-rights-timeline/ Ambition or Compromise?
Leonhardt & Philbrick
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/12/briefing/voting-rights-joe-biden.html