The People’s Power Begins with the Ballot

“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

At first glance, one might assume this comes from the Declaration of Independence, especially as we approach its anniversary in just a couple of months. But if you read closely, you may notice a subtle difference. This passage is actually from the Declaration of Sentiments, written in 1848 at the Seneca Falls Convention.

Following the structure of the Declaration of Independence, the authors listed grievances against the treatment of women in American society. They concluded with a powerful demand, “Now, in view of this entire disfranchisement of one-half the people of this country … in view of the unjust laws above mentioned, and because women do feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of these United States.” In short, they were demanding the right to vote be extended to women.

These women understood the fundamental importance of the vote. Consider a few of their grievances. They wrote, “He has compelled her to submit to laws, in the formation of which she had no voice,” and “Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides.” Their argument was clear: rights meant little without representation. Without the right to vote, they had no political power and were subject to the decisions of others.

For the next 70 years, women fought tirelessly for suffrage. Yet today, that struggle often feels forgotten. In Oklahoma, for example, if history holds, then only about 20% of eligible voters are expected to participate in the upcoming primaries. In an election to help determine the future of our state, most citizens fail to recognize the importance of this fundamental privilege.

Voting is one of the most crucial practices in a democratic society because it ensures that government reflects the will and interests of the people. During the French Revolution, two important political thinkers wrote about the events. While they completely disagreed with each other over the revolution, Thomas Paine and John Stuart Mill both defended the importance of voting, though they approached it from different angles. Together, their ideas help explain why voting is not just a privilege but a fundamental civic duty that supports freedom, accountability, and good governance.

Paine emphasized freedom and the rights of ordinary people. He did more than anyone else to convince Americans to revolt. In his pamphlet, “Common Sense,” written 250 years ago, Paine argued that government should exist to serve the people, not to control or exploit them. After our revolution, Paine went back to England but eventually fled to France before he was arrested for his writing supporting the French Revolution. While in France, he wrote a pamphlet called “Dissertation on First Principles of Government,” where he fought for universal suffrage. He wrote that voting is essential because it is one of the clearest ways people give or withdraw consent. Without elections, government becomes detached from the people it governs and risks becoming oppressive.

Paine’s argument highlights voting as a form of political equality. If all citizens are affected by laws, then all should have a voice in making them. Voting allows ordinary people to influence decisions about taxation, war, public services, and rights. He also believed that citizens could judge political issues when given access to information and free expression. Therefore, participation in elections is not only a right but a safeguard against tyranny. When people vote, they help ensure that leaders remain accountable and responsive to the needs of society.

While Paine focused on political legitimacy and equality, Mill approached voting from the perspective of representative democracy and intellectual development. The key for Mill was that democracy works best when citizens are actively engaged and well-informed. He also wrote during the French Revolution, but he was critical of its radicalness. In his work, “Considerations on Representative Government,” Mill argued that political participation – including voting – helps develop individuals’ reasoning abilities and moral understanding. For Mill, voting is not just a mechanism for choosing leaders, but it also is a process through which citizens grow intellectually and become better participants in public life.

Mill also emphasized the importance of protecting minority rights within a democratic system. He warned that majority rule could sometimes lead to the “tyranny of the majority,” where the interests of smaller groups are ignored or suppressed. Voting helps prevent this danger by encouraging a system of representation where diverse voices can influence policy. A healthy democracy requires not only participation but also thoughtful participation, where citizens consider how their decisions impact others. This is why Mill supported expanded suffrage, including women’s right to vote, at a time when many others opposed it.

In modern society, these ideas remain highly relevant. Voting allows citizens to influence policies that affect education, health care, the economy, and civil rights. It also serves as a peaceful method of resolving political disagreements, replacing conflict with structured decision-making. When citizens vote regularly, they help ensure that government remains connected to the people it represents. When they do not vote, political power can become concentrated in the hands of a few, weakening democratic accountability.

Historically speaking, voting also carries historical significance. Many minority groups struggle, some even giving their lives for the right to vote. Their efforts expanded democracy and made it more inclusive. Paine once said, “That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value.”

I would argue that we did not obtain voting lightly; it took bloody wars and movements. But maybe we are too far removed or uneducated in these trials. Maybe, as this year is the 250th anniversary of the document that gave us our freedom, we can reinvest ourselves in what has made America so special.

The best way to honor America is by exercising the privileges extended to us. By voting this year we honor those who fought to secure our freedoms while helping preserve them for future generations.

James Finck is a professor of American history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He can be reached at james.finck@swoknews.com. Thanks to the Southwest Ledger and the Lawton Constitution for sharing his column.