International Day of Democracy

Today is International Day of Democracy, a good moment to look back at how the right to vote has expanded in the United States over time. It wasn’t granted all at once, hard fought, our democracy has grown slowly, slowly, step by step.

• 1776: The Declaration of Independence set the foundation, but in practice only property-owning white men could vote.
  
• 1865: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, clearing the way for the next step in political inclusion.
  
• 1870: The 15th Amendment prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, though many states later found ways to restrict it.
  
• 1920: The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, a major expansion of the electorate.
  
• 1965: The Voting Rights Act enforced protections for African American voters and outlawed many discriminatory practices.
  
• 1971: The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18, giving younger citizens a voice during the Vietnam era.
  
  
  

These milestones show how democracy in the U.S. has gradually broadened, bringing more people into the process. Marking Democracy Day is a reminder that the right to vote hasn’t always been universal but it has been built over time, through hardship, protests, war, amendments and legislation.


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