“The Arkansas Voter” in the 1970s was still subjected to some literacy tests and had to prove the capacity to vote. This issue persisted despite the statewide ban on these requirements for voting (Kladky, 2021). Hence, the minorities typically had issues when trying to register for the elections in this state. This paper will analyze “The Arkansas Voter” in the 1970s and today and discuss the changes that occurred.
Currently, Arkansas’s voters are among the citizens of 15 states who can propose changes to the constitution (“Arkansas ballot issues,” n.d.). Hence, individuals can file a ballot and collect signatures in support of it. Moreover, the state’s cities often hold small-scale voting to make decisions regarding the local policies. A voter from Arkansas has to be a citizen of the state and reside in Arkansas, as well as possess the mental capacity to make voting decisions and reach 18 years of age (“Voting in Arkansas,” n.d.). In contrast to the 1970s, when the state “has occasionally been found by the courts to be in violation of the Voting Rights Act’s prohibition of vote dilution,” the modern voters have more freedom (Kladky, 2021, para. 15). The changes are the approach to voter registration and the freedom to vote.
The implications of these changes are that more people can register for the elections and participate, including the minorities who were previously discriminated against. The modern voters in the state do not have to pass additional literacy or competency tests, which eliminates the possibility of excluding some communities and groups of people from the elections. In summary, this essay addresses the changes to the Arkansas voting rights since 1970.
References
Arkansas ballot issues. (n.d.). Web.
Kladky, W. P. (2021). Voting and voting rights. Web.
Voting in Arkansas. (n.d.). Web.