The Right to Vote - Admission/Application Essay Example

The right to vote of the The right to vote America is one of the few countries that practice mature democracy. People vote in order to choose their leaders and representatives. Several decades ago, only white men who owned properties were allowed to vote but currently, all US citizens are eligible to vote (De Luca,2007).Voting is beneficial because it enables people to choose good leaders who will take care of their interests and needs. In addition, it guarantees better representation of people in the government and other state agencies.

Good representation ensures that the rights of the citizens are upheld (De Luca,2007). However, a large number of Americans do not participate in the voting process. People who do not vote in USA do not trust the political system. They feel that even though they elect people in leadership positions, their problems are never solved. According to them, they feel that voting is a waste of time whose main aim is to fulfill the interests of the political class (Scher, 2011).Zimbabwe, just like USA, employs democratic system of leadership.

Presidents and other leaders are elected by people. However, elections in Zimbabwe are different from those in USA because they are usually characterized by violence. Those in power intimidate people in areas that are perceived to be opposition zone with an aim of barring them from participating in elections. In most cases, people fail to vote in Zimbabwe due to state instigated violence unlike in USA where some people fail to vote because they don’t trust the political system. Although voting is a risky process in Zimbabwe, the citizens through civil societies and political parties have managed to create a new constitution that has enhanced their rights to vote (Scarnecchia, 2008).

The lesson from democratic struggle shows that developing a full democracy involves a lot of patience and suffering. The democratic space enjoyed in USA was a result of a long and painful struggle that resulted in death of prominent people. When election rules are upheld and fairness established in the election process, people will willingly participate in the process and choose good leaders (Scher, 2011).ReferencesDe Luca, T. (2007). Free speech, political equality, and campaign finance reform: A paradox for democracy?. New Political Science, 29(2), 145–166.

 Scarnecchia, T. (2008). The urban roots of democracy and political violence in Zimbabwe: Harare and Highfield, 1940-1964. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.Scher, R. K. (2011). The politics of disenfranchisement: Why is it so hard to vote in America?. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe