Elections
People vote in elections to select an individual or a group of individuals to hold an official office. The term describes a process by which voters nominate an individual for political or governmental positions. Every two years in November, federal elections are conducted in the USA (“Elections and Voting”). Affiliates of the House of Representatives and around one-third of the Senate are eligible for reelection in any given year (“Elections and Voting“). Presidential elections are conducted every four years; for instance, the last historic election of the 46th USA president was in 2020 (“Presidential Results“). State and municipal governments manage federal elections, and each State has its unique election procedures (“Elections and Voting“). Additionally, the United States Constitution and statutes provide the States with broad discretion in conducting elections.
Citizen Participation
Participation of the public in decision-making is referred to as citizen participation. One of the citizens’ duties is the right to take part in choices that influence the community’s prosperity. Citizens’ right to vote, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic background, is, therefore, referred to as citizen participation. Historically, the term relates to state and local government when citizens voted in the elections. For instance, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, is a historical event connected to supporting citizen participation (History.com Editors). Essentially, the 15th Amendment to the USA Constitution guarantees African Americans the voting right; this law sought to remove legal obstacles at the state and local levels that prohibited them from exercising that right (History.com Editors). Moreover, the Act is considered one of the most significant legislation regarding civil rights in American history.
Works Cited
“Elections and Voting.” (n.d.). The White House, Web.
History.com Editors. “Voting Rights Act of 1965.” History.com, Web.
“Presidential Results.” (2020). CNN Politics, 2020, Web.