Informative Project Major: Social Worker, Topic: Foster Care System

Topic: Voting GP: To inform SP: To inform the audience about the history and constitutionality of voting in the United States. Design: Chronological/Topical

Introduction:

Attention Getter: Ladies and gentlemen repeat after me: “We the People of the United States in order to form a more perfect union establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare to ourselves and our posterity.” In the very beginnings of our country, “the People” referred to white, landowning men. Now, this right has extended in respect to a broadening electorate. For the first time in history, we are finally “the People”.

Connect the Topic to Audience: For those of us who vote, we share the social responsibility of making our voice heard. As college students, and the future of our country, our vote in the upcoming election will set the tone of our political system for years to come.

Connect to Self and Earth Charter: Section 4, Number 13, Letter ‘B’ of the Earth Charter states, “Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organizations in decision making.” As regular citizens, it can be argued that the most vital participatory means of decision making is (someone say voting).

Preview: Today I will be providing some critical information that will hopefully educate you on both the electoral process and the importance of embedding yourself within this process.

Transition: The ballots have opened; step right this way and allow me to lead you towards Main Point One.

I. Voter I.D. Laws can be traced back to the very roots of our country’s birth. Let’s delve into some of this deeply imbedded history to further our understanding.

A. The document Federalist 68 outlined the Founding Father’s reasons for not making voting as easily accessible as they could have.

1. Currently, voting eligibility is granted to citizens over the age of 18, and in nearly all states they must also be non-felons.

a. However, voting in the United States was originally much less inclusive.

b. I learned that the majority of our Founding Fathers vehemently disagreed with the idea of a representative electorate.

2. There was a popular vote made by those permitted to vote (white property- owning men), the ultimate decision was made by “a small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations,” referencing the addition of the Electoral College (someone say Electoral College).

B. There are two main reasons why our Founders believed the general public was not fit to make the important decision of electing a president.

a. Due to a lack of internet or television, it was nearly impossible for lower-class citizens to become educated enough to understand a candidate’s position in order to form a reasonable decision.

b. During the Constitutional Convention, it was decided that an Electoral College would satisfy smaller states. Under this system. Each state had the same number of Electoral Votes as they had representatives in Congress. In other words, no state could have less than three, meaning that those residing in smaller states would have their votes count more than those living in medium or large states.

c. This system is still in place today. However, as voters become more informed and news becomes more accessible, this system is proving to be more and more unnecessary.

C. Throughout our country’s development, there have been significant changes in our electorate.

1. According to David Wolfford, a government and politics scholar and published author, the most common form of political participation is voting.

a. He broadens this claim by noting how in November 2016, about 138 million people, just over 60% of America’s voting-eligible population, cast their vote.

b. This is contrasted by the 43,782 votes in what is considered to be America’s first real general election in 1789.

2. The inclusion of Amendments 15, 19, 23, 24, and 26 within the Constitution have helped expand the suffrage of citizens, ensuring a wider variety of voices coming together during election times to make decisions for significant changes of our government. They have allowed voting rights (someone say voting rights) for African American Males, and have made voting for women, citizens above the age of eighteen, and citizens residing in Washington D.C. constitutional (someone say constitutional).

3. Additionally, with the elimination of literary tests, poll taxes, the grandfather clause, and other restrictive mediums, more people are able to vote now than ever before.

II. Despite these inclusive modifications to voting laws and processes, there is still a major gap in the percentage of those that are registered to vote and those that actually do vote.

A. According to the Census’s 2016 Population Characteristics on voting, “In 2016, among the estimated 18.9 million registered nonvoters in America, the most common reason for not voting was dislike of the candidates or campaign issues (4.7 million registered nonvoters), followed by not being interested in the election (2.9 million), being too busy or having a conflicting schedule (2.7 million), and having an illness or disability (2.2 million).”

1. In other words, the grand majority of nonvoters’ reasons could be linked to the phenomenon known as voter apathy.

2. Additionally, the lack of easier voting methods despite the technological era we are currently residing in.

B. One of the best ways to combat this would be electronic voting and counting systems.

1. The National Democratic Institute dives deeper into this issue, stating, “Even if the use of such technology is both technically feasible and desirable, it needs to be sustainable in the long run (someone say sustainable). There are a number of contributing factors to the long-term sustainability of implementing electronic voting and counting, including financial aspects, project management and staffing arrangements.”

2. For starters, project management and staffing arrangements. a. Discussions about electronic voting reached a peak after the 2000

elections trouble with the “hanging chads” epidemic in Florida, according to ProCon.org. Paper ballots are often regarded as unreliable, given its history in Bush v. Gore. Since electronic ballots would counter the hassle of human fallacy.

b. Additionally, with more reliance of the internet, there will be less necessity for poll workers, who are either volunteers or employees with very small pay. However, those that do stay would need to be trained in providing adequate support for the new systems.

3. The Organization of Engineering and Technology dives into this topic, highlighting some of the advantages to electronic voting.

a. They point out that this may help with voter apathy since it will appeal to the younger generation of future voters. Additionally, since voting is considered a habitual practice, if we start the younger generation voting strongly, they are likely to carry on doing so in future elections.

b. They summarize their opinions by saying, “Technology has the potential to transform voting and make politics more accessible, particularly to younger voters, thereby increasing turnout and making the result more reflective of the overall population.”

4. In regard to cost, there will be an initial fee for this shift in our electoral process, however with donor support, this cost is projected to be feasible.

5. On the flip side, Electronic-Vote.org, which outlines some of the concerns over Electronic Voting, worries that this will not only eliminate the personality of the democratic system, but may give terrorists the golden opportunity for sabotaging the elections in a way to gain more influence over our country.

C. As a future lawyer, I hope to use my knowledge of the law to ensure the continuation of equal voting rights for all eligible citizens.

Conclusion:

Transition: It’s time to close the polls and recount the ballets.

A. Today I have encouraged a deeper analysis of our country’s foundations and laws. B. I also addressed a sustainable solution to low voter turnout and political apathy. C. Abraham Lincoln said in The Gettysburg Address, “That Government of the people, by

the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” however, this can only be done if we keep our country running “by the people”.

Bibliography:

About Us. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.procon.org/about-us.php.

Apleasant. (2013, November 25). Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.ndi.org/e-

voting-guide/sustainability.

electronicvote.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://electronicvote.org/.

Loeb, J. (2017, June 8). Electronic voting would boost turnout and save money, IET

claims. Retrieved from https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2017/06/electronic-voting-would-

boost-turnout-and-save-money-iet-claims/.

National Archives and Records Administration. The Constitution of the United States of

America, The Constitution of the United States of America (1991). Washington, D.C.

The Earth Charter. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://earthcharter.org/discover/the-earth-

charter/.

The Federalist #68. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.constitution.org/fed/federa68.htm.

The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm.

US Census Bureau. (2018, October 10). Characteristics of Voters in the Presidential

Election of 2016. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2018/demo/p20-

582.html.

Wolfford, D. (2019). United States government and politics. NY, NY: Amsco School

Publications, Inc.