The only way to preserve the government "of the people, by the people, for the people" that President Abraham Lincoln described in the Gettysburg Address is for "the people" to participate in election of that government. "The people" that Lincoln was talking about includes each one of us. Voting is not an every four year event when the hoopla of a presidential election stirs voters' interest. The down ballot and off-year elections are very important as well. These are the elections that govern everything from potholes to education to parks to environmental protection to public safety– issues that have an everyday impact on our lives and deserve our attention.
Not too many years ago, people were willing to risk their lives to secure the right to vote. It is a privilege we cannot take for granted. It was not until 1918 that women were allowed to vote. Eighteen year olds have only been able to vote since 1971. The very close Bush v. Gore presidential election in 2000 showed us clearly that each vote can make a difference. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. We cannot waste this hard-won privilege if we want to preserve government "of the people, by the people, for the people."
Constitutional Provisions Concerning Voting and Elections
Article I, Section 2 Election of United States Representatives
Article I, Section 3 Election of Senators
Article II, Section 1 Election of the President & Vice President
Amendment 12 Election of the President & Vice President
Amendment 14 Equal Protection of the Laws
Amendment 15 Voting Rights for Black Men
Amendment 17 Direct Election of Senators
Amendment 19 Voting Rights for Women
Amendment 23 Electoral Votes for the District of Columbia
Amendment 24 Banning the Poll Tax
Amendment 26 Voting Rights for Young Adults
Also, see the following links:
The Bill of Rights Part One
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
The Bill of Rights Part Two http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
Additional Resources Concerning The United States Constitution, Elections and, Voting
College Students and Voting Time Article
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1849906,00.html
The U.S. Constitution & Amendments Dates to Remember
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/content/constitution/files/Constitution_DatesToRemember.pdf
The U.S. Constitution & Amendments: The U.S. Constitution
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/content/constitution/files/Constitution_ReadTheConstitution.pdf
2009 Constitution Day Survey
http://www.constitutionfacts.com/content/funZone/files/2009_Constitution_Day_Survey.pdf
The Bill of Rights Part One
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
The Bill of Rights Part Two
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html
Selected Bibliography
Amar, Akhil Reed. The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1998.
Amar, Akhil Reed, and Alan Hirsch. "For the People" What the Constitution Really About Your Rights. New York: Free Press, 1998.
Bailyn, Bernard, ed. The Debate on the Constitution. New York: Library of America, 1993.
Monk, Linda R. The Words we live by: your annotated guide to the constitution. New York: The Stonesong Press, 2004.
Things to Remember on Voting:
Register to Vote
Deadline-October 4, 2010
Early Voting Starts
October 18, 2010
Last Date for Early Voting
October 29, 2010
General Election Day
November 2, 2010
For more information on voting and to locate your Harris County polling location go to:
www.tax.co.harris.tx.us
click on Voter Registration
Voting is the RIGHT thing to Do ...
VOTER REGISTRATION EMAIL
To: All University of Houston Students
From: Dr. William F. Munson; Associate Vice Chancellor/Associate Vice
President for Student Development and Dean of Students
Subject: Voter Registration – State of Texas Constitutional Amendment and Local Elections
On Tuesday, November 2, 2010, voting on eleven State of Texas Constitutional Amendments and voting in local elections will take place. Voting is an important benefit of United States citizenship and to assist you in exercising your right to vote, UH is making voter registration forms available to you on campus in the Student Information and Assistance Center and the Dean of Students Office located in the University Center, at the Towers and Oberholtzer service desks located in the residence halls, and at the Bayou Oaks, Calhoun Lofts, Cambridge Oaks, and Cullen Oaks management offices. Voter registration forms can also be requested online through the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office at www.tax.co.harris.tx.us. Please be aware that the deadline to register to vote for the State of Texas Constitutional Amendments and for voting in local elections is Monday, October 4, 2010. The early voting period for this fall's elections commences on Monday, October 18, 2010 and ends on Friday, October 29, 2010.
Students who reside in counties other than Harris County may wish to contact the tax assessor/collector's office in their home county to facilitate registration or early voting. The following is a partial listing of tax assessor/collectors' websites in surrounding counties:
Brazoria County
www.brazoria-county.com
Chambers County
www.co.chambers.tx.us
Fort Bend County
www.co.fort-bend.tx.us
Galveston County
www.co.galveston.tx.us
Montgomery County
www.co.montgomery.tx.us