The Importance of Voting

Many of us take for granted our right to vote. In 1870 the 15th Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to all men who were 21 or older regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude. In 1920 the 19th Amendment gave women age 21 and older the right to vote. That was only 84 years ago! In 1964 the 24th Amendment made it illegal for states to charge poll tax to voters. The 1965 Voting Rights Act empowered the federal government to oversee voter registration and elections in counties where officials had regularly prevented blacks and other minorities from registering to vote or cast their ballots through use of literacy tests, grandfather clauses, and intimidation tactics. This Act enforced provisions previously guaranteed in the earlier amendments. The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age across the nation to 18 in 1971. As you can see voting rights have changed over time, and they are still changing today. We are very fortunate to live in a country where we have a say in our government. You can say what is important to you by voting.

Make your voice heard by voting!

This display will give information on voting and elections across the globe.

U.S.Documents

El Salvador: Implementation of the Peace Accords, Y 3.P 31:19/No.38

The Right to Vote, How Federal Law Protects You, J 1.2:V 94

Legal History of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act,
Y 3.El 2/3:2 L 52/3/v.1

Legal History of the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act,
Y 3.El 2/3:2 L 52/3/v.2

The Electoral College, Y 3.El 2/3:2 Es 7

Federal Elections, Y 3.El 2/3:16/2002

Ballot Access 1: Issues and Options, Y 3.El 2/3:2 B 21/2/v.1

Ensuring the Accessibility of the Election Process, Y 3.El 2/3:18/15

Voting Systems Standards, Y 3.El 2/3:2 V94/6/990

Current Population Reports: Special Studies "Party, Candidate, and Election Finance: A Background
Report," C3.186:P-23/102

Provisional Balloting, Y 3.El 2/3:18/19

The FEC and the Federal Campaign Finance Law, Y 3.El 2/3:2 F 31/2/2004

Procuring a User-Centered Voting System, Y 3.El 2/3:2 V 94/10

Developing a User-Centered Voting System, Y 3.El 2/3:2 V 94/11

Usability Testing of Voting Systems, Y 3.El 2/3:2 V 94/12

Voting Systems Standards, Y 3.El 2/3:2 V 94/6/2002/V.1-2

Twenty Year Report, Y 3.El 2/3:2 T 91

Presidential Elections 1789-2000, November 2001, I 19.2:El 2/4

These are good titles, but are microforms:

Federal Election Reform, Y 4.H 81/3:El 2/9/2001

Hearing on Federal Election Commission enforcement procedures,
Y 4.H 81/3:El 2/25

Election Reform….Hearings, Y 4.R 86/2:S.HRG.107-1036/V.1

To Protect the Voting Rights of Members of the Armed Services in Elections for the Delegate
Representing American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives, and for other
purposes, Y 1.1/8:108-515

Help America Vote Act of 2002, Y 1.1/8:107-730

Canadian Documents

Canada's Electoral System: Strengthening the Foundation,
Canada SE1-5/1-1993

Voter Turnout in Canada, Canada Z1-1989/2-41-15E

Referendum 92: Official Voting Results, Canada SE 1-8/1-1992

Royal Commission on Corporate Concentration, Canada Z -1975/1-41-22

Provincial Party and Election Finance in Canada, Canada Z1-1989/2-41-3E

Comparative Issues in Party and Election Finance,
Canada Z1-1989/2-41-4E

Interest Groups and Elections in Canada, Canada Z1-1989/2-41-2E

Canadian Political Parties: Leaders, Candidates and Organization,
Canada Z1-1989/2-41-13E

Election Broadcasting in Canada, Canada Z1-1989/2-41-21E

A History of the Vote in Canada, Canada SE3-36/1997

Profile of Federal Electoral Districts - Part A, Canada CS93-335

Federal Electoral Districts, Canada CS93-302

Reporting the Campaign: Election Coverage in Canada,
Canada Z1-1989/2-41-22E

Issues in Party and Election Finance in Canada, Canada Z1-1989/2-41-5E

Michigan Documents

Circulating City/Township Nominating and Qualifying Petition Forms, KFM4620.6 .C473 2003

Circulating Countywide Nominating and Qualifying Petition Forms, KFM4620.6 .C474 2003

Managing Your Precinct on Election Day: Election Inspector's Procedure Manual, JK5890.M53 1996

Michigan State Campaign Fund Gubernatorial Public Funding Program, JK1991.5 .M5 M53 1999

Ballot Question Committee Campaign Statement Instructions and Forms, JK1991.5 .M5 B3553 2003

Candidate Committee Manual, JK1991.5 .M5 C363 2003

Michigan Campaign Finance Ballot Question Committee Manual,
JK1991.5 .M5 B35 1998

2001 Campaign Finance Reporting Dates to Remember,
JK1991.5 .M5 T96 2002

The Status of the Qualified Voter File, JK2161.M5 L56 1999

Registering and Voting in Michigan, JK5891.R44 2001

Voting Systems in Michigan, JK5890.R86 2001

Campaign Statement Instructions and Forms for Political Party Committees, JK5890.C36 1997

Michigan Campaign Finance Political Party Committee Manual, KFM4620.85.C2 M533 1998

Uniform Voting in Michigan: A Report to the Legislature,
JK5890.U55 2001

Candidate Committee Campaign Statement Instructions and Forms, JK1991.5 .M5 C368 2004

Michigan's Apportionment Puzzle, JK5871.R46 v.19 no.2 2003

Political Party Committee Manual, JK1991.5 .M5 P65 2003

International Documents

Handbook for Observers of Elections, JN45.H36 1996

Women's Individual Voting Rights: A Democratic Requirement,
JF851.W65 2002

Disillusionment with Democracy: Political Parties, Participation and Non-Participation in Democratic Institutions in Europe, JN12.D57 1994

Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters: Guidelines and Explanatory Report, JC423.S353 no.34

Elections: Perspectives on Establishing Democratic Practices,
JF1001.E54 1997

Financing Political Parties and Election Campaigns - Guidelines, JF2112.C28 B53 2003

Voter Turnout at Regional and Local Elections in the European Union, 1990-2001, JN45.V68 1990/2001

Voter Turnout at Regional and Local Elections in the European Union, 1990-1999, JN45.V68 1990/1999

Women and Development, HQ1101.W7542 nos.17-23

Electoral Systems: A World-Wide Comparative Study, JF1001.E48 1993

Trading in Influence and the Illegal Financing of Political Parties,
JF1081.E934 1998

Elections: Perspectives on Establishing Democratic Practices,
JF1001.E54 1997

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