In November, voters will choose the president of the United States in an election reflective of a democratic process that happens every four years, a process that has become the hallmark of the American political system since the country’s founding in 1776. The foundational principle of voting has defined America as a nation that rests on the concept of collective selection, wherein governance is decided by “we the people.”
Elections are designed to give citizens who are eligible to vote the right to have their voices heard by the candidate who best reflects their views, values, and hopes for a better future. National conversations of late have focused on threats to democracy, whether it be the advanced ages of the presidential candidates, threats of dictatorship on Day 1, cognitive health concerns, and the 900-page Project 2025 transition plan, which illustrates a collection of conservative, right wing policy proposals that will impact Americans, in every facet of life. Newscasts, podcasts and kitchen table discussions across the country are inundated with what this next election cycle will behold.
Participation in the election process has been a hard fought, painful and often brutal experience for disenfranchised citizens. The Voting Rights Act signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Aug. 6, 1965, remains one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights movement. This act outlawed discriminatory voting practices that suppressed the ballots of marginalized voters. The law specifically targeted literacy tests, poll taxes, and other methods used to obstruct Black Americans from exercising their right to vote.
Awareness of this voting history is a key component of being an educated voter. Understanding how to be an informed voter is a civic responsibility that we should all prioritize. You can register and check the status of your registration with votewa.gov. It is paramount that we all research issues and candidates. Vote411.org provides detailed profiles of political candidates running for office. Utilizing the Vote411.org platform to access comprehensive information about candidates including their background experiences, key policy positions, and endorsements is a way to know what issues are affecting the constituencies across the nation and offers in depth issue guides that explain complex topics and provide unbiased analysis of ballot measures and policy issues.
This was compiled with information from the League of Women Voters of the Spokane Area.