The Right to Vote

1. What does the "original Constitution" (Articles 1-7 only, no amendments) say about voting rights?

• The original Constitution said that voting rights are left to the states and that it wasn't an inalienable right, but a privilege.

2. What does Lichtman mean when he says voting amendments are in "negative terms"?

• He means that the amendments are phrased to what the states can't do, and aren't in affirmative right to vote. This leaves the right to vote to be fragile.

3. Why does he think that the Framers left the right to vote guarantee out of the Constitution?

• He thinks that the Framers left the right to vote guarantee out of the Constitution because they believed voting should be restricted to those who held property or at minimum paid taxes.

4. Why does he say that we are now in a "period of backsliding" when it comes to voting rights?

• He believes that we are in a period of backsliding because we have new and obscure forms of voter disenfranchisement.

5. What forms of voter suppression does he mention?

• He mentions ID laws, registration purges, racial/political gerrymandering, and the disenfranchisement of felons.

6. Why is it difficult to overturn laws that suppress voting rights?

• It is difficult to overturn these laws because the judiciary is conservative and will let the states do as they please.

7. Where does he expect to see the biggest changes in the protections of voting rights to come from?

• He expects to see the biggest changes in the state courts instead of the federal courts.

8. What was strange about the way votes in Florida were counted in the 2000 elections?

• One out of every 10 African-American votes were discounted, whereas only one out of every 50 white votes were discounted.

9. How many states added photo ID laws for voters after Barack Obama's election in 2008?

• 15 states have added photo ID laws since 2008.

10. What kinds of policies does Lichtman suggest that the US needs?

• He suggests that the US needs anti-gerrymandering reforms, same-day voter registration, and automatic registration.