Sunday, June 29, 2008

You do NOT have the right to vote!


The 15th Amendment to the US Consitution states that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." The 19th Amendment states that a person's sex may not be used to deny or abridge the right to vote.

But NOWHERE in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or any of the other Amendments, is the right to vote explicitly guaranteed as an actual right for any US citizen.

The Supreme Court in its recent decision of District of Columbia v. Heller gives the right of guns to DC residents (and, by extension, most US citizens). Please note, however, that DC residents do NOT have the right to vote for Congressional representation. Their right to vote for President was only granted in the 1960s granted by the 23rd Amendment.

Notions Capitol, from whom I borrowed the above graphic, has some interesting comments on the matter.

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