Fight the Power!! VOTE NOW!

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power!

Women did not have the right to vote until The Voting Rights Act of 1965 removed many barriers enabling more people of color to vote. In 1788, the only people who could vote were white males, 21 and over, who owned property or were wealthy. In 1879, the 15th Amendment made it against the law to deny any citizen the right to vote because of his race or color or because he was formerly a slave.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Before July 5, 1971, people under the age of 21 had no right to vote.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! The 26th amendment was signed on July 5, 1971, guaranteeing 18 year olds the right to vote. Before, the voting age had been 21, even though 18-year-olds were old enough to get married, work, pay taxes or fight in wars.  The average age of US soldiers in Vietnam was 19.  61% of men under 21 died.  The average age of men killed in Vietnam was  5 men under the age of 16 were killed in Vietnam.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power!

In the past, many people of color in the south were forced to take a Constitution Test before being allowed to register to vote. Sample questions from the 1965 Alabama Literacy Test: 1.The number of representatives which a state was entitled to have in the House of Representatives was originally based on? 2.Appropriation of money for the armed services can be only for a period limited to how many years? 3."Involuntary servitude" is permitted in the United States upon conviction of a crime. 4.The Constitution limits the size of the District of Columbia to? 5.Who only can pass laws which apply to an area in a federal arsenal and who needs to give consent to the purchase of the land?

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! If you were frustrated here, just imagine what you'd feel like if your vote was at stake...

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! In the last presidential election, nearly 4 million Americans, were denied the right to vote due to felony and other criminal convictions. In many cases these individuals have been permanently stripped of their voting rights.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! 31 percent of all black men in Florida are prohibited from voting because they have a felony on their record.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! In 2002, a new law in CT restored voting rights to people convicted of a felony who are on probation.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Your Vote Counts! One vote does make a difference in the outcome of an election.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power!  In the 1960 presidential election, an additional one vote per precinct for Richard Nixon in just two states, would have made him the President, instead of John F. Kennedy.  In Waterbury, CT, 2002, Americo Santiago lost the primary by 11 votes.  In Torrington, CT, 2002 Anne Ruwet won her race to be a state representative by 1 vote.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Who votes? 75% of 75 year olds vote. 20% of 20 year olds vote. 80% of people over 18 in Avon voted. 30% of people over 18 in Hartford voted.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Who got elected to the CT General Assembly in 2000? Women Senate - 22% House - 33% Total - 31% African Americans Senate - 8% House - 7% Total - 7% Latinos/as Senate - 0 House - 3%

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! 75% of 75 year olds vote. 20% of 20 year olds vote. 80% of people over 18 in Avon voted. 30% of people over 18 in Hartford voted. Who votes? Who has power?

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Who registers to vote + who votes = who gets elected AND who has POWER

Connecticut's minimum wage is $6.90. If you earn minimum wage you can only afford a rent of $348. The average rent for a one- bedroom apartment is $711. With a minimum wage job, you would have to work 102 hours a week to afford a two- bedroom apartment. Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Things elected officials vote on that affect you…

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! In 2002, the CT legislature cut $2 million dollars from the state's housing budget.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! They also vote on things like: Curfews, How old you need to be to get a driver’s license, Funding for education and college tuition…

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power!

Sex Education. Elected officials decide what information you can have to protect yourself and your peers.  Over 50% of new HIV infections occur among people under age 25.  One out of five sexually active teenage girls will become pregnant.  The US government spent ½ billion dollars on censoring information about contraception and condoms from sex education classes.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Funding for education. Local, state and federal elected officials decide how much money gets spent on education. This can determine whether or not there will be art, music, science or sports programs.

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Rights are not won on paper. They are won only by those who make their voices heard. -Harvey Milk

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! Volunteer on campaigns!! Register to vote!! GET OUT AND VOTE!

For more information… DemocracyWorks - (860) CT Secretary of State’s office: (800) VoteSmart – to find who your representative and senator is:

Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power! This presentation was created as part of the Voting Rights Restoration Project of DemocracyWorks. The Project is comprised of 41 organizations. PowerPoint Presentation by Shawn M. Lang CT AIDS Residence Coalition