The right to vote is essential for the proper functioning of a democracy; yet throughout our nation’s history, many citizens were denied the right to vote. From the founding of our nation, it has been a continuing struggle to be able to exercise the most fundamental right of every citizen–the right to vote.

When John Adams, our second president, was in assembly to discuss the writing of our Constitution; his wife Abigail, who was at home, effectively managing the family’s affairs, wrote to him imploring him to not forget the ladies. He and the other men developing the Constitution ignored this request. Those who got the right to vote were men only thusly eliminating one half of the population. The right to vote was extended to only white men who owned property. After the Civil War, with amendments added, voting rights were extended to Black men–but still not to women. After Union forces left the South, White members of southern government made it virtually impossible for African-Americans to vote. A pole tax was added and this was finally outlawed. This tax did not apply to southern whites. A literacy test was added. Google Louisiana Literacy Test. Take the test your self. It is impossible to pass it and you had to answer ALL questions correctly. Southern whites did not have to take the test; only African-Americans. These attempts to limit access to voting continued until The Voting Rights Act of 1965. This act addressed the denial of voting rights and it provided for federal oversight to enforce right to vote. However, in 2013, the conservative US Supreme Court by a vote of 5-4 removed federal oversight of voting in southern states. The reason given by Chief Justice Roberts was that things have changed in the US since 1965 and that federal oversight was not needed. This is laughable. Immediately, without supervision, these states embarked on actions to make it difficult for people of color, minorities, and others who might be inclined to vote the democratic ticket to exercise heir Constitutional right. In Texas your gun register counts a s a voter ID but not your college picture ID. I can only think this is done when considering the political inclination of students and gun owners. In another state the Republican controlled Congress studied what was used by Democrats and people of color as a voter ID and then these IDs were deemed to be unacceptable. Voting precincts were moved or eliminated in minority communities. Precincts that did still exist in these communities had reduced voting machines resulting in unnecessary line for people waiting to vote. I live in central Ohio and I have seen this practice of not enough voting machine in neighborhoods of color and an excess of machines in affluent neighborhoods. These are obvious attempts of Republican controlled states to make voting more difficult for people of color to vote. State government controlled by Republicans will continue to control legislation as long as gerrymandering is allowed to occur and the will of the people will be ignored. Voters must have a picture ID to vote. Why is this necessary. When I first voted my signature was compared to my previous signature at the voting precinct. A picture ID was not necessary. Republicans say this is necessary to prevent voter fraud which is so miniscule that it is virtually nonexistent. If you do not have a driver license, how do you get to the bureau of motor vehicles to get a picture ID. This is another unnecessary hoop for voters to jump through. We should not make voting difficult but make it easier. This is just another attempt at voter suppression.

Lets go back to women. In order to get the vote, women needed to rely on the magnanimity of white men in Congress. Good luck with that! Finally after the end of World War I, the 19th Amendment was passed guaranteeing women, after the long struggle against oppression, the right to vote.

Now, Trump wants to reduce your right to vote. He believes in these times of Covid-19 that if people can vote by mail (something he and his family do) he will not win reelection and has stated that if we are allowed to vote by mail no Republican would ever get elected. He says there will be voter fraud and wants to call into question the outcome oft he election. This is the heart of the matter–he would lose. Democrats are more likely to vote by mail than Republicans, so he wants to suppress voting by mail. What has he done? He appointed one of his mega-donors, Louis DeJoy, to be Post Master General. He has no experience with the postal service. DeJoy immediately enacted several policy to slow down the mail. He had mail boxes removed and machine that fast processes mail to be disassembled thus slowing down mail delivery. Overtime pay was to be ended. He says this will reduce costs. How does removing mailboxes and processing machines save money? It does not. People are receiving social security checks, medicine and bills to be paid late with mail left waiting to be delivered. If mail in ballots are late they are not counted and since more Democrats than Republicans have said they will vote by mail, it is possible that this will affect the election. DeJoy told Congress that he will not return mail boxes and machines that were removed. Trump has admitted that is what he wants, yet with the exception of Utah Senator Romney, Republicans in Congress remain silent in face of this attack by Trump on our democracy.

So what do we do. I am planning to vote early at the local board of elections. I did this in the primaries and I was impressed by the efficiency that I experienced. If you do not want to vote on election day, get your mail-in ballot and immediately fill it out and return it or take it to your board of elections and drop it of in person. If you are able to, volunteer to work at the local voting place. email, call or write to your elected officials to emphasize how you feel about how you and others are affected by the problems created mainly by Trump.

Vote! our democracy cannot afford 4 more years of Trump. Remember if you don’t vote you don’t exist.

Here’s a thought: ” What happens to an authoritarian ruler when he is not in power?”

Can you say: Southern District of New York?