The unhindered right to vote in our country is crucial for our or any democracy to survive and flourish, but this right for our citizens to vote has been a difficult road with many roadblocks. Before our Revolutionary War one quote that I am sure you remember from your history books: “No taxation without representation.” Even before our nation was founded we were demanding representation. When John Adams was instrumental in the writing of our constitution, his wife, Abigail, exhorted him to “not forget the ladies.” While he was away from home the management of their household fell to Abigail. Her pleas fell on deaf ears and women never right to vote until after World War I. So in the beginning of our democracy, only white men who owned property could vote so most citizens were denied the vote. At the end of the Civil War, several amendments were added to the constitution to allow freed slave men–not women–to vote and hold office (this was under the supervision of the Union army); however, when Union troops were removed, Southern Whites regained control of southern governments. Although former slaves could vote, impediments were in place to deny them the ballot. Violence and intimidation kept them away from voting. A variety of tests including literacy tests were used to prevent African Americans from voting. Google Louisiana literacy test and take it yourself. After taking the test, Google the answer key. You had to score 100%–no mistakes or errors or you fail the test. Only African Americans were require to take the test ((and some undesirable whites). With the passage of the Voting Rights Act protection of voting rights was provided. Google it and read it. It required certain Southern States with a history of impeding African Americans access to the ballot from doing so by supervising the states conduct. However, the current reactionary (see my post on reactionary and radical) Supreme Court gutted this Act and said that current southern states no longer need oversight. Immediately several southern state governments put in place laws that made access to voting by black and brown people more difficult. Obviously, they still need oversight and have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted. There is virtually no illegal voting but Republican legislators insist that to protect voting we need picture IDs. A picture student ID in many states cannot be used bur a gun license is OK. How does someone get to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to get an ID if they don’t drive. When I first voted I arrived at the precinct, was asked my name and was looked up in their book was told to sign my nasme and if it matched my previous signature was allowed to vote. No picture ID was required. Republicans have passed laws requiring a picture ID; not to protect election integrity but to make it more difficult for minorities (who often do not have cars) to vote. This has been and ongoing attempt– along with gerrymandering–to maintain power and not to listen to the will of the people. In November, Ohioans will be able to pass an amendment to the Ohio Constitution doing away with gerrymandering. I urge all Ohioans to vote and support the amendment to give back our government to we the people. If you are not registered, contact your local board of elections and request to register and if you are registered, vote in person or request a mail in ballot. We must guard our right to vote jealously.

Ok, here is your “homework” Google and take the Louisiana Literacy test and check how you did. Remember you must score 100%–no errors, not one. Next google and read about the voting Rights act and what the Supreme Court did to it. Supreme Court’s actions will strike you as anti-democratic. Finally; read How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. In light of Trumps threats about what he will do when he gets re-elected, it should scare you. Make no mistake; Trump will do exactly what he threatens to do (be a dictator from day one) .In Mein Kampf, Hitler said what he would do but no one thought he’d do it.

Nex time we will look at the first amendment.