A Real Right to Vote

How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy

By: Richard L. Hasen

Narrated by: Daniel Henning

Throughout history, too many Americans have been disenfranchised or faced needless barriers to vote. Part of the blame falls on the Constitution, which does not contain an affirmative right to vote. The Supreme Court has made matters worse by failing to protect voting rights and limiting Congress's ability to do so. The time has come for voters to take action and push for an amendment to the Constitution that would guarantee this right for all.

Drawing on troubling stories of state attempts to disenfranchise military voters, women, African Americans, students, former felons, Native Americans, and others, Richard Hasen argues that American democracy can and should do better in assuring that all eligible voters can cast a meaningful vote that will be fairly counted. He shows how a constitutional right to vote can deescalate voting wars between political parties that lead to endless rounds of litigation and undermine voter confidence in elections, and can safeguard democracy against dangerous attempts at election subversion.

The path to a constitutional amendment is undoubtedly hard, especially in these polarized times. A Real Right to Vote explains what's in it for conservatives who have resisted voting reform, and reveals how the pursuit of an amendment can yield tangible dividends for democracy long before ratification.

©2024 Richard L. Hasen (P)2024 Kalorama

The authors knowledge of the judicial system

About laws of Congress that are raised in the Constitution and state laws and provisions conflicting with these laws and together with Supreme Courts relation to these conflicts this an interesting topic and the author gives an amazing perspective, He also has a skill in breaking down complex topics, simplifying and explaining them very well. Feels like I’m in a law school lecture with an esteemed professor, which he apparently is as well!

solid

the reader had a difficult cadence, and used accents & voices in a distracting manner

the book was good overall, the Senate amendment was under-discussed, as the text in the appendix would certainly have sweeping ramifications.

the history & current events were solid.

this complements books on proportional representation well

this book should have included recommendations for beginning a citizen led convention process between states. that seems like one of our only hopes for the next little while