As Americans we are a nation of choices; choices so plentiful they not only shape who we are, but shape our lives: how we think, our ideals, our wants, our needs, and especially how our government whether local, state, or federal, dictates the majority of beliefs that we have. Yet, who dictates which candidate will win an election and which candidate will lose an election - any and all registered American citizens over the age of 18 who choose to have a voice. A voice that is certainly influenced by just some of the forms of media such as: mass mailings, social networking, political shows, the news, debates, and multitudes of television ads that can inundate your insomnia-driven mind while you are attempting to focus on your program of choice; a focus that even the ancients were subjected to as citizens in their own way.
Though the ancient Greeks may not have had the technology that we have today, they did believe in the meaning of the word democracy. Their citizens used broken pieces of pottery which was both plentiful and inexpensive in order to scratch their candidate's name in order to vote. This was to pave the way to what appears to be the first use of paper to cast a ballot in Rome 139 B.C. And in 1789, America's first election for president took place as George Washington was then sworn into office making history. It is a history that has been great and a history that has been tainted. However, voting is a history that through bloodshed, sacrifices, experimentation, and constitutional amendments as Americans we have earned the right; the right to exercise our freedom - freedom of voice and freedom of choice.
Before the American Revolution it use to be that the English King had much say in who was typically appointed for certain offices until in 1787 the passage of the U.S. Constitution gave white male property owners age 21 and over the right to vote. Acts were later conceived from 1807-1843 that changed requirements that all white men age 21 and over could vote regardless of property ownership. After the Civil War in 1870 the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to all men age 21 and older regardless of race, ethnicity, and economic background, except it was not until 1920 that women through the 19th Amendment age 21 and over won the right to vote as well. However, many states and their officials regularly prevented blacks and other minorities from either registering to vote or from being able to cast their ballots through the use of tests, clauses, and especially intimidation tactics. It was not until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act allowed the federal government to take over areas while enforcing provisions previously guaranteed in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments that were conceived originally almost a century earlier. And since 1971 the 26th Amendment lowered the voting age across the nation to the age of 18 and over to include our youth of America. Lastly, another important year within our voting history is 1982 when the Voting Rights Act gave us further provisions for Americans not able to read, write, speak English, or with a disability. Laws enacted to extend to all of us to be able to have a say and laws that blood was shed for, sacrifices were made for, and through hundreds of years of experimentation has grown to give us as individuals, as a community, and as a nation choices that over the years have declined because of lower voter turnout, interest, or belief that their voice does not matter. Well, all voices do matter regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or even economic background. November 6th of 2012 is the Presidential election which will include ballots containing also other governmental candidates who will be making the decisions for us when they take office as well as important ballot questions. My advice whether you do not agree, agree, or whether you do not like, or like the choices that may shape our lives then Carpe Diem; get out and seize the day - seize that moment to make history by knowing that your voice does matter.
http://www.salemnews.com/archive/x1684126009/Column-Carpe-diem
