A Real Right to Vote: A Conversation with Rick Hasen

For many Americans, the freedom to vote is unfairly conditioned on where they live, the color of their skin, or how much money they have.

Several amendments to the U.S. Constitution have been passed over the decades extending this fundamental freedom to voters of color, women and citizens who are 18 years of age. However, the lack of an overarching amendment guaranteeing the right to vote leaves our democracy vulnerable because the freedom to vote is treated differently depending on where voters live and how courts handle disputes over their rights. 

In his new book, “A Real Right to Vote,” Law Professor Rick Hasen explains why a constitutional amendment is necessary, and why now is the time to begin a campaign in support of such an amendment. 

As Professor Hasen explains, enshrining voting rights in the Constitution will benefit all Americans, no matter which side of the political aisle they sit on.  

In discussion with Campaign Legal Center President Trevor Potter, Professor Hasen described his vision for the freedoms an amendment on voting rights would protect, its potential impact on our democracy, and why he believes it’s possible to pass such an amendment, despite a challenging political climate. 

Rick Hasen is a Professor of Law and Political Science at UCLA, Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project, and proprietor of the Election Law blog.