"America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations And Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges.” - George Washington

Of blessings so many of us take for granted, near the top of the list is our 224-year-old Constitutional democracy.

Democracy means that citizens participate in the decisions of government in both informal and formal ways. This might include involvement through the organizations and causes we serve by engaging with others in our communities to build better lives and advance the common good – what artist-activist Paul Robeson called "the forward march of humanity." Then there also are the official structures through which citizens participate in the democratic process by voting for candidates for such public offices as school boards, judgeships, town managers, mayors and city councils, county executives, governors, state and federal legislators, and presidents.

This system of representative democracy is only truly effective when it involves all our citizens. In a comparative study of voter turnout in parliamentary elections between 1945 and 2001, Australia ranked first (94.5%); the United States ranked 120th (66.5%). The Aussies seem to have it right: voting is compulsory and failure to go to the polls punishable by a fine. Just as a driver’s test and license are required to operate a car, and an entrance exam is needed to attend college, citizenship, too, has its obligations: participation in the political process. NOTE: If you are reading this on or just after October 2nd and know anyone who is eligible but is not registered to vote on November 6th, the opportunity still exists in many states, but hurry. (Click here for a state by state round-up of registration deadlines.)

Voting in America today is in some ways easier than ever before. In other respects, it is more problematic. Beginning just after  the Civil War, constitutional amendments have broadened the definition of "who" can vote to include Americans regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; regardless of sex; regardless of their ability to pay a poll tax; those inhabiting the District of Columbia: and those 18 years and older. More recently, the “how” of voting has expanded to encompass in some areas online-registration by as simple a means as entering personal information into a smart phone; early voting which extends the window for making candidate selections; and the use of absentee and provisional ballots to ensure that voter voices are heard even if they are absent or are not recorded in the voting rolls on Election Day.

In many places, however, voting limitations have not eased up. They are, in fact, growing stronger. A study by Demos and Common Cause issued in September 2012 looks at threats posed by voter challenges in ten key states – Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. They involve the process put in place that gives officials the authority to challenge a registered voter’s right to vote before or on Election Day, the behavior of poll watchers on Election Day, and protections for voters against intimidation, outside and inside the polls. Students, older Americans, low-income individuals and people of color – "the oppressed and persecuted" of which George Washington spoke in the above quote – are frequently the focus of these challenges. In recent days, courts have taken a number of voter ID laws and similar restrictions off the table.

There is another category of American of particular concern. Convicted felons, many of whom grew up in poor and disadvantaged households, are to a great degree disenfranchised in America. Only two states (Maine and Vermont) permit them to vote while in prison and only12 jurisdictions (D.C. plus eleven states) allow them to vote once released. Most commonly (in 20 states), ex-convicts must wait to vote until they are no longer on parole, probation, or supervised release. Two states, Kentucky and Virginia, revoked the voting rights of felony offenders for life. If serving time is not just about punishment or paying a debt to society, but also a time to begin anew, then surely civic participation should be an option for these individuals.

It should not come as a surprise that some are attempting to discredit the legitimacy of voting rules or block voters they assume will vote for a different candidate or party than their own. Democracy is by definition inclusive. It thrives, not by manipulating the process to choose those most deserving or ideologically compatible, but by working to enlist everyone truly to reflect the will of the people. That is why we need to be prepared to make sure rules are followed and people’s rights are protected.

Our work is cut out for us. We can:

• Get people registered and encourage them to turn out on Election Day.
• Provide information on what is at stake on a nonpartisan basis.
• Prevent or overturn laws that preclude eligible people from voting.
• Participate as poll watchers to ensure the process is according to law.

Our informal wing of democracy can help make sure the formal wing works for all our citizens and is held accountable for the promises made. Together, we can give new impetus to the optimistic vision of rights and participation George Washington and other founders offered us. Together we can make our democracy count!