write an argumentative essay about exercising your right to vote

Civics-Online.org

Promoting civics education in America

Exercising the right to vote is essential to being a good citizen

More Voting Rights :

• Four important responsibilities of voters
• Reasons why you should vote
• The right to vote should not be taken for granted
• Voting rights you might not know about

Generally speaking, most Americans tend to take their hard-won voting rights as guaranteed givens that go with the territory of U.S. citizenship. Such a lackadaisical attitude is extremely dangerous and may backfire with permanent loss of a false sense of political security, however. The primary reason why that’s true is due to proverbial mice’s bent to begin playing whenever their space is free of human inhabitants. In practical real-world terms, such a scenario invariably leads to progressive devolution of life circumstances beyond the point of no return that could have been completely avoided by electing the right candidate for the job. This is precisely what non-voting citizens do by effectively surrendering to defeat by default.

True Democracy vs. total hypocrisy

There are many reasons why you should vote , but the first and most important thing that non-voting eligible U.S. citizens must fully comprehend and keep firmly in mind at all times is the basic purpose of casting a ballot in any election: Tacit expression of personal preference in a public representative. That basic rule holds true for U.S. Presidential campaigns and local court administrators alike: Selecting the best candidate to represent constituents’ special interests.

Therefore, failure to vote constitutes implied consent to governance by incumbent public officeholders. It further equates to forfeiture of any right to voice any complaint about current governmental officials – despite how inept or corrupt they may be. The combined truths of all foresaid facts of American political life amount to a singular conclusion: failure to vote equals inexcusable neglect of public and private affairs.

Voting rights are mandatory responsibilities for naturalized and native citizens alike

A popular school of thought exists that holds voting as a mandatory obligation for naturalized U.S. citizens. The official Guide to Naturalization contains the following verbatim passage:

“Citizens have a responsibility to participate in the political process by registering and voting in elections.”

As such, the standard naturalization oath requires pledgees to solemnly swear or affirm to support the U.S. Constitution, which entails voting as an integral part of that affirmation.

While native U.S. citizens currently have no legal compulsion to vote, many knowledgeable observers urge the passage of legislation to mandate that every eligible citizen participate in all popular elections.

Many benefits vs. major detriments of voting

Despite a lack of notoriety or fame, political activism by casting a ballot in all elections can impart many subtle indirect advantages to citizens that include but are not limited to:

1. Having the relatively rare opportunity to exercise one of the primary privileges of membership in a democratic society.

Public officials in the U.S. are handpicked by a majority vote of governed populists. Such a momentous privilege must never be taken lightly and always exercised rightly. Numerous wars have been fought and many lives were lost to build and preserve democratic governance. Anyone who doubts the gravity of that point merely need to ask a fresh foreign immigrant whose homeland is ruled by leaders that weren’t chosen by the people. Indeed, such social catastrophes are precisely what many immigrants seek to escape by taking up residence in the U. S. of A. Even more startling is the dawning realization that failure to vote by all eligible citizens would result in an identical situation for America. After all, if no one bothers to express their desired pick for public representation, the U.S. federal government will install somebody to fill open seats in Congress and elsewhere throughout Washington.

2. Enhanced political clout and personal credibility

Even the least informed people can readily appreciate and respect potential gains to be made via consistently high levels of political activism. Thus, voting on a regular basis garners greater respect and admiration of others who become inspired to do likewise on their own behalf. This positive trickle-down effect ultimately culminates as increased voter participation on a much larger scale that is more representative of the entire electorate.

3. Nobody wants, needs or appreciates taxation without representation

As taxpayers, most citizens want some say so in where and how their hard-earned money goes and the manner in which the nation is run. The only way to ensure having some say to hold major sway with delegated responsible decision makers is voting for those in whom you repose complete trust and confidence.

In the final analysis, voting offers a means of speaking your mind without ever talking loud enough to let your voice be heard! Your vote is your voice. When you vote, you actually tell elected reps what you want and where you stand on important issues pertaining to public safety, retirement benefits, affordable healthcare and other matters of vital import. If you don’t vote for your personal beliefs, others will and you probably won’t like the end outcome. Not to dare mention betraying children by tossing their futures to the whimsical Fates.

A prime example of proof that one man, one vote really works was the 1960s Civil Rights Movement whereby sweeping, far-reaching positive changes occurred solely due to political activism of African Americans fed up with generations of extreme deprivation and second-class citizenship to such an extent that even precluded entry into public places via the front door. A peculiar aspect of those major victories was having to fight for the right to vote before being able to vote for positive change. However, take heart! If those forbears of color did it while facing huge hurdles that had to be overcome, so can you!

Why Voting Is Important

“Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean? And what does it mean for Americans in particular?

Social Studies, Civics, U.S. History

Americans Voting

Typically in the United States, national elections draw large numbers of voters compared to local elections.

Hill Street Studios

A History of Voting in the United States Today, most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in federal and state elections , but voting was not always a default right for all Americans. The United States Constitution, as originally written, did not define specifically who could or could not vote—but it did establish how the new country would vote. Article 1 of the Constitution determined that members of the Senate and House of Representatives would both be elected directly by popular vote . The president, however, would be elected not by direct vote, but rather by the Electoral College . The Electoral College assigns a number of representative votes per state, typically based on the state’s population. This indirect election method was seen as a balance between the popular vote and using a state’s representatives in Congress to elect a president. Because the Constitution did not specifically say who could vote, this question was largely left to the states into the 1800s. In most cases, landowning white men were eligible to vote, while white women, black people, and other disadvantaged groups of the time were excluded from voting (known as disenfranchisement ).

While no longer explicitly excluded, voter suppression is a problem in many parts of the country. Some politicians try to win re election by making it harder for certain populations and demographics to vote. These politicians may use strategies such as reducing polling locations in predominantly African American or Lantinx neighborhoods, or only having polling stations open during business hours, when many disenfranchised populations are working and unable to take time off. It was not until the 15th Amendment was passed in 1869 that black men were allowed to vote. But even so, many would-be voters faced artificial hurdles like poll taxes , literacy tests, and other measures meant to discourage them from exercising their voting right. This would continue until the 24th Amendment in 1964, which eliminated the poll tax , and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended Jim Crow laws. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the long efforts of the women’s suffrage movement resulted in the 19th Amendment. With these amendments removing the previous barriers to voting (particularly sex and race), theoretically all American citizens over the age of 21 could vote by the mid 1960s. Later, in 1971, the American voting age was lowered to 18, building on the idea that if a person was old enough to serve their country in the military, they should be allowed to vote. With these constitutional amendments and legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the struggle for widespread voting rights evolved from the Founding Fathers’ era to the late 20th century. Why Your Vote Matters If you ever think that just one vote in a sea of millions cannot make much of a difference, consider some of the closest elections in U.S. history. In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case ( Bush v. Gore ). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes. Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 2000–2008. More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a close Electoral College win. Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided a tight race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes to win the presidency. Your vote may not directly elect the president, but if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results. Most states have a “winner take all” system where the popular vote winner gets the state’s electoral votes. There are also local and state elections to consider. While presidential or other national elections usually get a significant voter turnout, local elections are typically decided by a much smaller group of voters. A Portland State University study found that fewer than 15 percent of eligible voters were turning out to vote for mayors, council members, and other local offices. Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful. How You Can Make Your Voice Heard If you are not yet 18, or are not a U.S. citizen, you can still participate in the election process. You may not be able to walk into a voting booth, but there are things you can do to get involved:

• Be informed! Read up on political issues (both local and national) and figure out where you stand.
• Get out and talk to people. Even if you cannot vote, you can still voice opinions on social media, in your school or local newspaper, or other public forums. You never know who might be listening.
• Volunteer. If you support a particular candidate, you can work on their campaign by participating in phone banks, doing door-to-door outreach, writing postcards, or volunteering at campaign headquarters. Your work can help get candidates elected, even if you are not able to vote yourself.

Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life. Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Production Managers

Program specialists, last updated.

October 19, 2023

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources

• Access to Justice
• Civil and Human Rights
• Corporate Accountability
• Criminal Law
• Environmental Protection
• Federal Courts and Nominations
• Health Care
• Immigration and Citizenship
• Rule of Law

Voting Rights and Democracy

Constitutional accountability center.

• Arc of Constitutional Progress
• America’s Second Founding
• The United States Constitution

The right to vote, essential to a well-functioning democracy, is the most enshrined right in the Constitution and is protected by five separate Amendments. CAC works to extend this fundamental right to all Americans and push back against attacks that attempt to limit the people’s access to the ballot box.

Voting Rights and Democracy in Brief

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder , conservative state and federal officials have proposed or passed restrictions aimed at abridging the right to vote. Discover how CAC is defending our democracy and the people’s access to the ballot box against these attacks.

Featured Case

Alpha phi alpha fraternity, inc. v. secretary, state of georgia, case timeline.

• CAC files  amicus  brief in the Eleventh Circuit

Get updates on our work

Related issue areas.

Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

While the right to vote was achieved by some as a result of a long-term fight for equality, and many sacrifices were laid at its altar, many people nowadays do not take advantage of this opportunity. No matter whether it is a lack of time or desire, not all citizens hurry to electoral stations to cast their votes when it is required. Numerous research studies have been performed to find out the reasons why people choose to vote or stay at home. The results of the studies show that people’s explanations of their desire to express their voting preferences, as well as their excuses for the lack of motivation to vote, are numerous, varying from emotional to rational.

Voting is considered the main instrument employed by citizens who have the desire to declare their opinions and participate in their democracy (Caprara et al. 266; Wang 483). In his research, Wang (483) remarks that without the people’s participation in elections, the Constitution upheld by the democratic administration would not be achievable. Also, taking part in the elections gives citizens the right to consider the elected officials to be responsible for their activity (Wang 483). The scholar examines the impact of emotion and rationality on voter attendance numbers. He notes that total voter turnout depends greatly on both rational and emotional factors. The “rational choice theory” (Wang 483) can be explained in terms of a cost–benefit estimation. That is, if the voter considers his/her advantages greater than the disadvantages, the individual will make his or her voice heard. On the contrary, when the benefits are expected to be smaller than the disadvantages, the person would rather not take part in voting. Wang mentions a suggestion by Downs, who said that rational people might cast their vote just because they think that, in this way, they are supporting democracy, and their absence will lead to its failure (qtd. in Wang 485).

The impact of emotion on people’s voting behavior is believed to have strengthened in the most recent decades (Wang 484). The researchers acknowledge that both positive and negative feelings play a crucial role. For instance, if a person likes one of the candidates, he/she will take part in voting to support that candidate. On the other hand, if the would-be voter does not support any of the candidates, he/she will probably refrain from casting a vote. However, negative emotions toward a particular candidate sometimes work as a motivator for voters to show up and vote against him (Wang 484-486). Wang summarizes the vehicles driving the voters to attend as follows: the voter’s concern, the competitive spirit of elections, the person’s identification with a certain political party, the voter’s serious interest in politics, and the person’s level of education and income status (Wang 490-491).

Harder and Krosnick (525) investigate the psychological causes of voter turnout. They distinguish between three main criteria: the person’s motivation to vote, the person’s ability to vote, and the obstacles that stand in the way of receiving the necessary data about the candidates in the elections (Harder and Krosnick 525). The authors evaluate the power of several factors that may influence voter turnout: the registration procedure, demographic aspects, psychological and social issues, the particular elections’ features, and the impact of pre-electoral polling and canvassing. The authors remark that the complexity of the registration procedure is one of the main reasons why some people decide not to vote. To make this process easier, “registration drives” (Harder and Krosnick 529) have been implemented. The demographic aspects of voting participation include age, education, gender, occupation, living conditions, and ethnic peculiarities (Harder and Krosnick 528-530).

People with better achievements and prospects tend to cast their vote more often than those in the opposite categories (Harder and Krosnick 530-534). The psychological and social impact on voter turnout comes via the person’s family, neighbors, and social groups. Apart from these factors, the voter’s patience, trust, and habits play their role: Some people are ready to wait for the candidates to fulfill their promises, while others prefer not to vote, since the results will be seen much later (Harder and Krosnick 534-537). The specific elections’ features that can influence people’s participation are concerned with personal preferences, the proximity of the race, the alikeness of the campaigns, and the impact of negative advertising. While the first two factors inspire the people to vote, the last two discourage the voters (Harder and Krosnick 537-540). Pre-electoral canvassing and polling have proven to have no impact on voter turnout. However, taking part in a survey or an interview can have some positive results (Harder and Krosnick 540-541).

The variety of factors impacting voter participation in elections suggests that people have opposite views and attitudes toward their right to vote. While some find it their duty, others prefer not to take part because they lack information or interest in the process. The government is implementing some approaches with an eye to increasing the interest of the voters, but it is up to every person to choose whether or not to vote.

Harder, Joshua, and Jon A. Krosnick. “Why Do People Vote? A Psychological Analysis of the Causes of Voter Turnout.” Journal of Social Issues . 64.3 (2008): 525-549. Web.

Wang, Ching-Hsing. “Why Do People Vote? Rationality or Emotion.” International Political Science Review 34.5 (2013): 438-501. Web.

• Political Issues: Voter Turnout in Texas
• The Benefits of Electronic Voting in Politics
• Polling as a Tool for Determining Human Reactions
• Can Mexico Fix Its Image Problem: Article Analysis
• How Important Is Politics and Power to Children’s Lives?
• International Political Scene: Globalization and Peace Relations
• Socialism and Liberalism Comparison
• Anarchism. Zapatista Army of National Liberation
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, January 22). Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote. https://ivypanda.com/essays/us-citizens-attitudes-toward-exercising-the-right-to-vote/

"Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote." IvyPanda , 22 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/us-citizens-attitudes-toward-exercising-the-right-to-vote/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote'. 22 January.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote." January 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/us-citizens-attitudes-toward-exercising-the-right-to-vote/.

1. IvyPanda . "Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote." January 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/us-citizens-attitudes-toward-exercising-the-right-to-vote/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Us Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Exercising the Right to Vote." January 22, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/us-citizens-attitudes-toward-exercising-the-right-to-vote/.

Essay on Voting Rights

Students are often asked to write an essay on Voting Rights in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Voting Rights

Introduction.

Voting rights are fundamental to democracy. They allow citizens to choose their leaders and influence the direction of their country.

History of Voting Rights

Historically, not everyone had the right to vote. Many groups, such as women and people of color, had to fight for these rights.

Importance of Voting

Voting is important because it gives citizens a voice in government. It allows people to express their opinions and hold their leaders accountable.

Challenges to Voting Rights

Despite progress, challenges still exist. Some people face barriers to voting, like strict ID laws or limited access to polling places.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Voting Rights

Voting rights, the cornerstone of democracy, have been a contentious issue throughout history. The struggle to achieve universal suffrage has been marked by social movements, policy changes, and legal battles, reflecting the evolving understanding of democratic ideals.

The Evolution of Voting Rights

Initially, voting was a privilege reserved for the elite, property-owning men. However, over time, the right to vote expanded to include broader demographics. The 19th-century suffragette movement, for instance, played a crucial role in securing voting rights for women. Similarly, the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century fought against racial discrimination in voting.

Contemporary Challenges

Despite these advancements, contemporary challenges persist. Voter suppression tactics, such as restrictive voter ID laws and limited polling locations, disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Additionally, the debate around extending voting rights to non-citizens and felons remains divisive.

The Importance of Voting Rights

Voting rights are essential for a functioning democracy. They ensure that the government is representative of and accountable to its citizens, fostering political stability and social cohesion. Moreover, they empower individuals to influence policies that directly impact their lives.

500 Words Essay on Voting Rights

Introduction to voting rights.

Voting rights, a fundamental aspect of democratic societies, refer to the legal rights or entitlements that allow citizens to participate in their government’s decision-making process. These rights are the bedrock of democracy, ensuring public participation in electing representatives and shaping policies.

Historically, voting rights were not universal. In many societies, only certain demographics, typically landowning males, were granted the privilege. Over centuries, suffrage movements worldwide fought to expand these rights. The 19th and 20th centuries marked significant milestones, with women’s suffrage movements and civil rights movements leading to a more inclusive voting landscape. However, the struggle for universal suffrage continues in various parts of the world.

Voting Rights and Social Equality

Voting rights empower citizens, giving them a voice in the political process. They enable the public to elect leaders who align with their values and interests. Moreover, they provide a mechanism for holding elected officials accountable. In essence, voting rights are a tool for political self-determination, allowing citizens to shape their society’s future.

Contemporary Challenges to Voting Rights

Despite the progress made, challenges to voting rights persist. Voter suppression tactics, such as restrictive voter ID laws, purging of voter rolls, and limiting early voting, are common in many democracies. Additionally, the digital age presents new challenges, with misinformation campaigns and cyber threats potentially influencing voter behavior.

The Future of Voting Rights

In conclusion, voting rights are a cornerstone of democratic societies, reflecting the principle of political equality. While significant strides have been made in expanding these rights, ongoing challenges underscore the need for vigilance in protecting and enhancing them. As we move into the future, it is crucial to continue advocating for voting rights, ensuring that all citizens have an equal voice in shaping their society.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Essay Samples
• College Essay
• Writing Tools
• Writing guide

Creative samples from the experts

↑ Return to Essay Samples

Argumentative Essay: All Citizens Should be Required by Law to Vote

Every citizen has the right to vote, yet so many people don’t vote, with the turnout at just 64% for the 2008 presidential election, and voter turnout rates decreasing steadily in most established democracies. There are a number of reasons why people may not vote: a lack of understanding of politics, people being busier, a lack of trust in the government, laziness, not caring or even contentment with how things are.

But when people fought so hard to get fair and equal voting rights for all, it should be a legal requirement that every US citizen turns out on election day and votes.

For a start, not voting when you have the right to is disrespectful to a lot of people. It disrespects those that fought and struggled for the right to vote and not be discriminated against, because to not vote is to not value the contribution and sacrifice that they made for all of us. However, it is possible that many people do not value the movements because they are ignored from our own history. The school system should value important suffragettes just as much as presidents so people are more aware of the suffrage and then they would be more likely to want to vote.

It also isn’t fair to many underprivileged or oppressed people all over the world who would give anything for the right to vote, but are denied the important opportunity that we so readily throw away. These people may feel that we are ungrateful what they have, and they would be right, because they would love the chance to have a say in the way their country runs and potentially improve their lives through it, while we don’t bother to vote but then moan if things don’t go the way that we want.

This is another reason that we should have to vote: because otherwise you shouldn’t have the right to complain. If you don’t even try to influence policy in the ways that you can, you can’t then moan about how rubbish everything is. If you’ve done all that you can but it hasn’t worked, however, you and everyone else being critical of the government is perfectly reasonable because things are going wrong despite every citizen’s best efforts.

The main argument against making voting compulsory is that the people that aren’t voting currently don’t care, and will just pick randomly and could make bad choices and undermine the votes of those that thought carefully. However, although people may not actively vote to improve their country, they wouldn’t actively vote to make it worse, so if they had to vote they would put some effort in. If we all had to vote, we would all understand more and the country would be better off.

Follow Us on Social Media

Get more free essays

Send via email

Most useful resources for students:.

• Free Essays Download
• Writing Tools List
• Proofreading Services
• Universities Rating

Contributors Bio

Find more useful services for students

Free plagiarism check, professional editing, online tutoring, free grammar check.

15 Reasons Why You Should Vote in the US Election

Every four years, the United States holds an election for president. Congressional elections occur every two years, while various state and local elections happen every year. While some rules vary, you’re typically eligible to vote if you’re a U.S. citizen, meet state residency requirements, register to vote, and are 18 years old on or before Election Day. Why is it important to vote? In this article, we’ll explore 15 reasons why you should vote in US elections, including elections in 2024.

  #1. Voting impacts the future

In the US, one person gets one vote. It may feel like your vote doesn’t matter. What can one person do to change the future? Voting for things you believe in does matter. The main reason is that when people organize around an issue and all make their voices heard, society changes. The other reason is that while your vote can feel meaningless in federal elections, it has a huge impact on smaller, local races. NPR listed a series of races determined by just a few votes , like a 2017 Virginia House of Delegates race. The election was a tie. Officials chose the winner by pulling a name out of a bowl. The Republican was declared the winner, giving the party control of the state House by just one seat. If one more person had shown up to vote in that race, the winner wouldn’t have come down to random chance.

#2. Voting isn’t a right Americans have always had

Millions of Americans vote in elections, but in the past , the number of those eligible was much smaller. In 1789, the U.S. Constitution didn’t even detail specific voting rights, instead leaving it up to the states. Most states only let white, male landowners vote. In 1868, the 14th Amendment established birthright and naturalized citizenship. While the amendment also gave freed enslaved people and Black people citizenship, they still weren’t given voting rights until two years later. Women weren’t given the right to vote until 1920, and in 1965, the Voting Rights Act passed, finally providing more voting right protections. Many people take voting for granted, but it’s the result of centuries of activism and progress.

#3. Voting rights are under threat, and voting can help protect them

Even after years of positive change, voting rights are still under threat. Things like gerrymandering , which is the redrawing of district lines to favor one party over the other, and stricter eligibility requirements are undemocratic. According to a piece from Human Rights Watch, voting rights are also threatened by misinformation, election interference and the intimidation of election officials. In 2023, at least 14 states passed laws making voting harder. Everyone eligible should take advantage of their right to vote and make it clear they want their representatives to protect voting rights. The right to vote is something everyone, regardless of their other beliefs, should fight for.

#4. Voting is an important tool for civic engagement

According to Robert Longley on ThoughtCatalog, civic engagement is “participating in activities intended to improve the quality of life in one’s community.” That includes political activities like voting, as well as non-political activities like volunteering at nonprofits, contributing to food banks, cleaning up public spaces and much more. When everyone participates in civic engagement, more problems are solved, people are more educated on issues in their communities and politicians are held to higher standards. While voting is just one aspect of civic engagement, it’s one of the most important.

#5. Voting is essential to a representative government

In a pure democracy, every American would be responsible for writing legislation, but the US uses a representative form of government. The nation is technically a “ republic ,” which is a form of government where voters choose representatives. These representatives then write and establish laws. A representative government is only successful if as many people as possible vote. This helps create a government truly based on what the people want and need.

#6. Voting holds politicians accountable

Politicians often get a bad rap, and often for good reason. Some get into government just for the money, power, business connections and other perks, while even politicians who started with good intentions can turn their backs on their constituents. When a politician fails to represent the best interests of voters, gets involved in a scandal, or is otherwise doing an unsatisfactory job, voting is the best way to hold them accountable. Before an election, you can make it clear you won’t vote for a politician unless they take certain actions on the issues you care about. If they fail to meet your standards, you can vote them out.

#7. Voting in local elections has direct impacts

Federal elections get the most coverage in the United States, but it’s the smaller state and county-level ones that have the most direct impacts on individual voters. Things like school funding and tax increases are determined locally, so if you want to make your voice heard, you should vote in local elections. As an example, a county in Oregon recently approved a school levy that will pay for classroom teachers and keep class sizes “steady” for the next five years. Homeowners were asked to pay $1.63 out of every $1,000 of assessed property value. Measures like this have a clear impact, so every affected voter should participate in the final decision.

#8. Voting impacts international relations

The outcomes of local elections arguably impact individuals more than federal elections, but that doesn’t mean big elections aren’t important, too. Congress and the president make decisions that affect the country as well as the world. According to the BBC, the US is the “world’s most foremost economic and military power.” It provides ⅕ of the United Nation’s entire budget, while it spent over $816 billion on defense in 2023. On a cultural level, the United States is also one of the most influential nations. By voting and staying engaged politically, you can have a say in the United States’ impact on international relations.

#9. Voting helps you stay informed on issues

Politics can be stressful and confusing. Many people don’t pay close attention to all the issues, so when elections come around, they don’t vote because they don’t feel informed. It’s never too late! When elections are approaching, take a little time to research the candidates and ballot measures in your area. Resources like Ballotpedia , which provides unbiased information on policy, politics and elections, are useful because they’re accessible and free. You don’t have to understand everything about an issue to have an opinion, so use election time to get just enough information to feel comfortable voting.

#10. The United States, which is facing more threats, needs informed voters

As we described earlier, voting rights have been under threat lately, but that’s not the only reason the United States is struggling. America is facing worsening climate change effects, rising homelessness rates , and more bankruptcies , among other issues. Experts have also expressed alarm with the Republican Party’s shift toward authoritarianism.  Former president Donald Trump, who is currently the leading Republican candidate and defendant in four criminal cases, has talked about wanting to be a dictator “for one day ” and indicting political opponents, who he’s called “vermin,” if re-elected. Everyone eligible should vote if they care about where the United States is headed.

#11. Many experts – and voters – believe the future of democracy is at stake

Democracy is never a guarantee, but it’s become a central issue for the United States in recent years. According to the Brookings Institution, “democratic erosion” has two main sources: election manipulation and executive overreach. Donald Trump’s attempt to undermine the results of the 2020 election is the clearest example, but state legislatures have been making it harder to vote for years. When polled, Americans are concerned about the future of democracy. According to one survey, 62% of adults believed democracy will be threatened based on who wins the 2024 presidential elections. With the stakes so high, voting is more important than ever.

#12. Climate issues are on the ballot

Climate change is the world’s most serious problem, and as reports from groups like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change continue to confirm, human activity is driving climate change. Countries like the United States bear the most responsibility. Every election has consequences for climate change policy, so it’s one of the most compelling reasons to vote. Research what candidates on a county, state and federal level believe about climate change and what they plan to do.

#13. Many elections involve reproductive rights

In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe. v. Wade , taking away the federal right to abortion and flipping it back to the states. Several ballot measures either protecting or restricting abortion rights have come up. According to Ballotpedia, Maryland and New York will vote on ballot measures involving reproductive rights in November 2024, while others will no doubt emerge. A politician’s stance on reproductive rights and plans to address them matter more than ever, so it’s important to consider these rights when voting.

#14. Immigration is another important issue

The United States has more immigrants than any other country. The system is overwhelmed. According to NPR, as many as 10,000 people a day reach the US-Mexico border. Immigrants from other places, often forced by conflict and climate change to move, are also arriving in larger and larger numbers. Both of America’s main political parties – the Republicans and Democrats – have struggled to respond, leading to issues like inhumane conditions, family separations, hateful rhetoric and much more. Who Americans elect and what legislation they approve of matter, so immigration is another good reason to vote.

#15. LGBTQ+ rights need protection  

According to NBC, 75 anti-LGBTQ+ bills became law in 2023. They include restrictions on transition care for minors, bans on transgender athletes from school sports, limits on teaching about LGBTQ+ issues and more. While those 75 laws represent just 15% of the 500 proposed anti-LGBTQ+ laws proposed in 2023, they still have a significant impact. In a piece for Them , Nico Lang lays out how Republican politicians will continue to threaten LGBTQ+ rights while expanding their fight against transition care to adults. Ballotpedia already lists six ballot measures involving LGBTQ+ rights that will need voter approval in 2024. If you care about LGBTQ+ rights, voting is one of the best ways to protect them.

You may also like

15 Political Issues We Must Address

15 Trusted Charities Fighting for LGBTQ+ Rights

16 Inspiring Civil Rights Leaders You Should Know

15 Trusted Charities Fighting for Housing Rights

15 Examples of Gender Inequality in Everyday Life

11 Approaches to Alleviate World Hunger 

15 Facts About Malala Yousafzai

12 Ways Poverty Affects Society

15 Great Charities to Donate to in 2024

15 Quotes Exposing Injustice in Society

14 Trusted Charities Helping Civilians in Palestine

The Great Migration: History, Causes and Facts

About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, "i thought ai proofreading was useless but..".

I've been using Scribbr for years now and I know it's a service that won't disappoint. It does a good job spotting mistakes”

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essays Samples >
• Essay Types >
• Argumentative Essay Example

Voting Rights Argumentative Essays Samples For Students

9 samples of this type

If you're seeking an applicable way to simplify writing an Argumentative Essay about Voting Rights, WowEssays.com paper writing service just might be able to help you out.

For starters, you should browse our huge catalog of free samples that cover most various Voting Rights Argumentative Essay topics and showcase the best academic writing practices. Once you feel that you've studied the major principles of content structuring and drawn actionable ideas from these expertly written Argumentative Essay samples, developing your own academic work should go much smoother.

However, you might still find yourself in a circumstance when even using top-notch Voting Rights Argumentative Essays doesn't let you get the job done on time. In that case, you can get in touch with our experts and ask them to craft a unique Voting Rights paper according to your individual specifications. Buy college research paper or essay now!

UK Prisoners Right To Vote Argumentative Essay Example

Prisoners' right to vote in the uk and the need for the current law reforms, free argumentative essay on american populist movement, introduction, example of argumentative essay on martin luther kings rhetorical strategy in his 1963 i have a dream speech.

Don't waste your time searching for a sample.

Get your argumentative essay done by professional writers!

Just from $10/page

The U.S. Should Have Compulsory Voting Laws Argumentative Essay Examples

The changing role of women in society argumentative essay, inequality towards women in the workplace argumentative essay, identify 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of the us government from the given areas argumentative essay example, electorate determinants 3 argumentative essay sample.

Table of Contents

Introduction 2

Man and Woman, Woman and Woman or Man and Man 4 Procreation or Not 4 Optimum Environment for Children 5 Gay Relationships are Moral or Immoral 5 Federal Law 6 President Obama 7 Politicians and Media Figures 8 Conclusion 10 Work Cited 10

The French Revolution And Its Impact On The Haitian Revolution Argumentative Essay Examples

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Advertisement

Supported by

Supreme Court Upholds Law Disarming Domestic Abusers

The decision amounted to a retreat from what had been an unbroken series of major decisions expanding gun rights that started in 2008.

• Share full article

By Adam Liptak

Reporting from Washington

The Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the government can take guns away from people subject to restraining orders for domestic violence, limiting the sweep of a blockbuster decision in 2022 that had vastly expanded Second Amendment rights.

Indeed, Friday’s decision amounted to a retreat from what had been an unbroken series of major rulings favoring gun rights that started in 2008, when the court first recognized an individual constitutional right to keep firearms in the home for self-defense.

In the 2022 decision, the court established a right to carry guns outside the home and announced a new test to assess all sorts of gun control laws, one that looked to historical practices to judge their constitutionality. That new test has sown confusion in the lower courts, with some judges striking down laws that had been on the books for decades.

The case decided Friday, United States v. Rahimi , asked whether a Texas man could be prosecuted under federal law making it a crime for people subject to domestic violence restraining orders to possess guns. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., writing for the majority in the 8-to-1 decision, said that the answer was yes and that Second Amendment rights have limits.

“When a restraining order contains a finding that an individual poses a credible threat to the physical safety of an intimate partner, that individual may — consistent with the Second Amendment — be banned from possessing firearms while the order is in effect,” the chief justice wrote. “Since the founding, our nation’s firearm laws have included provisions preventing individuals who threaten physical harm to others from misusing firearms.”

Justice Clarence Thomas, the author of the majority opinion in the 2022 decision, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen , was the only dissenter.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Susan B Anthony — Analysis Of Susan B. Anthony’s Speech On Women’s Right To Vote

Analysis of Susan B. Anthony’s Speech on Women's Right to Vote

• Categories: Susan B Anthony

About this sample

Words: 879 |

Published: Sep 1, 2020

Words: 879 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1.5 pages / 674 words

4.5 pages / 1980 words

1.5 pages / 780 words

7 pages / 3092 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Susan B Anthony

The art of speech has multiple components that make it persuasive and inviting. The use of rhetorical devices is what makes an address interesting and also invokes the curiosity of the audience. Throughout the hardship that [...]

All through history, there have been numerous talks that have numerous and enormous effect on society, however one that will never be overlooked is the speech by Susan B. Anthony, “On Women's Right to Vote.” This speech is in [...]

The title year of George Orwell's most famous novel is nineteen years past, but the dystopian vision it draws has retained its ability to grip readers with a haunting sense of foreboding about the future. At the heart of many of [...]

"When Thomas More wrote Utopia in 1515, he started a literary genre with lasting appeal for writers who wanted not only to satirize existing evils but to postulate the state, a kind of Golden Age in the face of reality" (Hewitt [...]

Offred and Winston, the main protagonists of the two strikingly similar dystopian fictions, The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984, have disparate fates in the endings of the novels. Julia’s fate, however, is undetermined, as (like the [...]

Perception of time represents a major motif in modernist literature. Many works address the subjectivity of our experiences, including how we process and consider the passage of time. Due to the modernist and post-modernist [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free