The Right to Vote: Rights and Liberties under the Law

The Right to Rights and Liberties under the Law tracks the expansion of the franchise in America from colonial times to the present. Opening with a case study establishing the importance of access to the ballot, the main emphasis shifts to pivotal points in American history including the hard-fought struggles for women’s suffrage and racial equality. A chapter on 21st-century voting rights addresses the most unsettled issue we face today―the use of majority-minority districts to enhance the political influence of African Americans and Latinos. A parting look at free and fair elections and the 2000 presidential election debacle shows how votes not counted or improperly credited can make a mockery of the democratic process.