I believe wholeheartedly in the power and the right of each American citizen to cast their vote. In a democratic society like ours, voting is not just a privilege; it is a fundamental right. Yet, our present voting system has proven to hinder rather than promote this right. As an American citizen who believes in equal and fair opportunities, I feel it is time to change our system for the better.

Every US citizen who turns 18 should be automatically registered to vote, either at a local voting station or via mail, with an option to opt-out if they so desire. As it stands, only 16 states, along with Washington D.C., have automatic voter registration systems in place. This means in the majority of the states, the onus is still on individuals to ensure they are registered – a system that can unintentionally disenfranchise a significant number of eligible voters (Source: Brennan Center for Justice, NYU).

Moreover, I firmly believe that individuals who have served their time for felonies must be allowed to vote without any form of discrimination. As of now, felony disfranchisement laws across the country are keeping approximately 5.85 million Americans from voting due to past felony convictions (Source: The Sentencing Project). This is a clear obstruction of democracy and justice, and this must be remedied.

Through this petition, I am calling upon our lawmakers and relevant stakeholders to implement an automatic voter registration system nationwide for all 18-year-olds, and to restore voting rights for citizens who have served their time for felony convictions. This is a critical step towards making our democracy more inclusive, fair, and representative of all its citizens. Please sign this petition and support this call for voting reform.