The common excuses of “our vote doesn’t matter” stems from the fact that citizens don’t feel they can exert the influence that those with large monetary wealth do. In an era of history where inequality is as high as it was during the Gilded Age, this feeling is only natural.
Voter Access articles on Democracy Chronicles
This section of DC focuses on voter access: a vitally important aspect of democracy concerned with ease of voting and the various barriers in the way. Voter ID, Compulsory Voting and Felon Voting are just some of the hot button issues highlighted here. Also see our sections on American democracy and Money Politics.
Harvard Politics Students Fail 1964 Louisiana Literacy Test
Top Harvard students find Louisiana Literacy Test from 1964 was basically impossible, designed with intention of African-American voter suppression only
Nebraska Signature Requirements Unfair to Urban Voters
Court ruling blocks Nebraska signature requirements that gave rural areas more weight than urban
Midterms Were Least Democratic Vote Recent History
Depressingly low citizen turnout following massive new voter suppression efforts and record political corruption result in least democratic vote in decades
Stopping Voting Pets and Dead People Without Voter ID
Voter ID support was based on imaginary threats before, but voting pets and dead people is new
Voter ID Reduces Minority Access to Election as Predicted
Midterms full of evidence that introduction of requirements for voter ID reduces minority access
Mistakes and Irregularities Trouble Voters Nationwide
Many election irregularities trouble voters after wave of changes to election laws like voter ID
Requiring ID Adds Time and Money Barrier to Voting
Placing hurdle of obtaining proper government ID amounts to time and money barrier to voting
The Problem With Door-to-Door Campaigns Collecting Ballots
Colorado mail voting has led to political campaigns collecting ballots privately in worrying trend
Supreme Court Backs Texas Voter ID in New Twist
In latest surprise erratic Supreme Court backs Texas voter ID to take effect for vote in two weeks