Making Your Mark: A History of Voting for US President

The right to vote hasn’t always been fair, preventing many sectors of US society from making their mark and having a voice. It has proved to be a long road, and the journey to equal voting for all Americans hasn’t been smooth sailing, but thankfully, times have changed in this regard. Take a look back into the past and discover the history of voting for US president.

Ancient Origins

Before discussing voting in the US, one needs to look even further back in history. The voting story begins in Ancient Greece in about 508 B.C. with the start of democracy. However, most of us wouldn’t recognise their voting system. 

The process was based on a negative election—a reverse outcome compared to what is in place today. Only male property owners could vote for the political figurehead they didn’t want in charge. Instead of voting someone in, they voted someone out. The “winning” candidate was then exiled for a decade. 

Bits of broken pots were used as the ballots. A candidate needed to receive over 6,000 votes to be exiled. If no one received the minimum number, then all the candidates could stay. There was usually an even number of votes across the board, as the number of male landowners wasn’t large. In this way, only the hugely unpopular candidates were told to leave. 

Centuries later in Venice in the 1200s, a Great Council was elected by an approval voting system. Similar to the present day’s voting system, Venetians elected 40 members, voting for one candidate they deemed acceptable. Popes and Holy Roman Emperors were also selected through a voting process. 

At the turn of the 17th century, representative governments in European nations and North America paved the way for elections that are more recognizable today. The move was towards an individual’s choice, giving the power to governments chosen by the people.

A Democratic Contradiction

Caucasian American property owners in the 18th century were the only ones who could make their mark in the voting process. Ironically, this voting limitation contradicted the whole meaning of living in a democracy, preventing the majority of society from having a voice. 

Religious views also played a role in certain places, as some states allowed only Christian men to participate in the voting process. Tests were administered to ensure this law was upheld.

The end of the Civil War in the mid-1800s marked the start of more leniency in voting rights thanks to the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. This ensured that race didn’t prevent a person from being allowed to vote. By 1870, the states had approved this amendment, but it didn’t lessen race discrimination, especially in the Southern states that implemented additional legislation to curb voting freedom. Administering literacy tests and poll taxes were just two examples of this. 

Women Find Their Voice

Only a few US states included women in the voting process, so the majority of the female population had to wait until 1920 to vote. This wasn’t an easy feat. 

At the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, the Declaration of Sentiments was signed by all attendees. This was the first mass gathering dedicated to the cause. The Suffrage Movement grew over the decades, gaining momentum during World War I as more women became part of the workforce. The White House became a frequent location for Suffrage picketing, and the movement’s popularity grew, with arrests, rallies and hunger strikes adding to the frenzy. 

Finally, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granted women the right to vote. It was passed by Congress on 4 June 1919 and ratified on 18 August 1920.

Opening Up to Younger Voters

In the 1960s, there was a strong move to change the minimum voting age. Previously, Americans couldn’t vote until they turned 21, but student protests against the Vietnam War became a turning point. Since 18-year-olds were seen as adults and were drafted to go to war, why was the voting age still 21? Thanks to the 26th Amendment, voters 18 or older couldn’t be prevented from making their mark. 

Provisions were also made for voters speaking a different language. Limited proficiency in English shouldn’t be a barrier to voting freely, so voting stations now need to ensure that multilanguage speakers are adequately cared for. Similarly, voting stations are also required to be suitably equipped for people with disabilities.

21st Century Issues

In 2000, the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore saw many problems. Inconsistency within the system, equipment malfunctions, and poor ballot box design were just some of the complaints. With this in mind, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act in 2002. States were required to update voting equipment and provide voter registration lists. 

In the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump raised the issue of voter fraud. After an investigation by the Washington Post, only four cases of illegal voting were discovered out of 135 million ballots cast. Claims of voter fraud appear to be an ongoing issue, but no new procedures have been implemented to uphold the competency of the voting process.

Voter turnout in the 2018 midterm elections was exceptionally high. Almost fifty percent of eligible voters turned up at the polls, the highest number in a century, especially for females.

With the next US presidential election just around the corner, many prospective voters might need an outlet from the stress of voting. Why not put a bet on who wins the 2024 US elections and stand the chance of being a winner in your own right?

It Begins with the Ballot Box

Voting hasn’t always been inclusive. The 1776 voting process differed vastly from the polling stations of today. In the past, voting was unchartered territory for the majority of citizens. Many decades would pass before every individual had the right to vote. 

The voting box represents a powerful choice that wasn’t always granted to every US citizen. Taking a stand and having a collective voice is a proactive acknowledgement to those who have paved the way. The roots of democracy are solidified with everyone’s fundamental right to vote.