Election Day is the day where America’s democracy is most prevalent and people can express their political opinions with actions and cause change. Voting as a concept has existed since Ancient Greece and has continued to be practiced today. Voting took place by having people cast their votes on leaves or very early forms of paper, and seal all of the votes in pots to be counted later. Compared to present-day, there isn’t much of a difference in how voting takes place now besides being on a large scale and online.

Tyler McGruder | PNN Voters in Texas hurry to the polls to cast their ballots.

Official laws around elections and voting provide American values in the 1st Article of the Constitution and later modified in the 15th and 19th Amendments where Black men and then all women were allowed the right to vote. In the 24th Amendment, poll taxes were eliminated to make more people interested in voting. The 26th Amendment was ratified to lower the age limit allowing people 18 years and older to vote. Multiple Acts have been made for the purpose of getting rid of limiting factors keeping people from voting or even wanting to vote. Examples of these are the Civil Rights Acts that first acted as outlines to be continued and edited in later renditions.

Tyler McGruder | PNN Capital Hill will soon open to many new elected members of the Congress.

In America, elections take place once every two years on the first Tuesday of the month in November. Members of the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate are up for election every two years, but presidential elections occur every four years. To register and vote for any of these positions in the future, visit https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/.

By Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty teaches English and Mass Media Studies at Penn High School. He advises the Penn News Network and manages the PNN Studio and news room. For more information, navigate your browser to www.massmediastudies.net.