Political Participation

People participate in politics in numerous ways. They campaign and volunteer for candidates and political parties. They take part in local government by attending city council or school board meetings and expressing their opinions. The most effective way a person takes part in politics, however, is by voting. All naturalized and legalized US citizens are eligible to vote as long as they are eighteen years old by the date of the election and reside in the state where they intend to vote. Some individual states have additional requirements. For example, people who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense are barred from voting in certain states. While the right to vote is an important one that many groups such...