The constitutional right to vote
does not exist.
In 2003 Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) introduced HJR 28: A Proposed Amendment to Establish a Constitutional Right to Vote in America. Yesterday JJJr. gave the best speech of the day on election reform, highlighting how this fundamental lapse leads inevitably to inequitable elections due to the inconsistent patchwork of state-level systems.
45 representatives have signed on as cosponsors of HJR 28. Remarkably, yesterday both Dick Durbin and Tom Harkin indicated for the first time that they'd consider supporting this amendment.
The beginning of the proposed amendment:
SECTION 1. All citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, shall have the right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides. The right to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, any State, or any other public or private person or entity, except that the United States or any State may establish regulations narrowly tailored to produce efficient and honest elections.
The 45 sponsors of HJR 28 are the Congressional Black Caucus plus Bob Filner (CA-51), Luis Gutierrez (IL-4), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Marcy Kaptur (OH-9), Patrick Kennedy (RI-1), Dennis Kucinich (OH-10), Tim Ryan (OH-17), and Pete Stark (CA-13).
So there's lots of work to be done. Sign the petition and contact your reps to see where they stand.
ReclaimDemocracy.org has more.