Voting is the cornerstone of democracy, and yet the history of voting in America has often been one of exclusion—and many who are able to vote choose not to exercise their right. The fight for voting rights has existed alongside GOTV (Get Out the Vote) campaigns to encourage voter registration and turnout. The National Museum of American History's online exhibition, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, explores voting history and fundamental questions about what it means to be a citizen. The National Museum of African American History Museum exhibition, Make Good the Promises, examines the ongoing struggle to uphold the promise of the 15th Amendment. Votes for Women features collections from across the Smithsonian related to women’s suffrage.
The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed. You can lose it.
—Rep. John Lewis, 2020
