Voting Rights Policy - Political Parties and Stances

Voting enfranchisement has long been a topic of concern amongst Americans, especially African Americans. Moreso with respect to voting itself, Democrats view voting as a fundamental right vested in each naturalized citizen, whereas Republicans view voting as a privilege that can be limited depending on an individual’s actions. More specifically, 78% of Democrats believe that voting is a fundamental right that should not be restricted in any way, while fewer than a quarter (21%) say it is a privilege. On the contrary, two-thirds of Republicans say voting is a privilege that can be limited if limited requirements are not met, compared with about half as many (32%) who say it is a fundamental right. While Democrats and Republicans disagree as to whether voting is a right or a privilege, both parties agree that voting rights are good.