Voting is an opportunity given to Americans. As Americans we live in a democracy. Americans live in a voting democracy; a democracy where people fought for the right to vote in many situations and for the rights of Americans not to be violated. However, sometimes people simply don't vote. Perhaps the reason is that some Americans are not familiar with the American context and where all the voting began. Perhaps some Americans think that it all comes down to electoral votes and that their vote is simply not significant. It may be that they are not interested in politics and do not want to engage in something they do not understand. There are many reasons why Americans choose to vote and many reasons why Americans choose not to vote. Furthermore, starting with the context in which voting and elections occurred in America. A law was soon passed that would allow states to administer a presidential election that could take place at any time in the thirty-four days before December. In colonial times, voting was a right granted to those who paid taxes, those who owned a certain amount of land, or those who had their fair share in their region. The right to vote in these times was limited to only white men with certain qualifications. Voting has since been simplified in how states required people to vote. During this time, African Americans were only granted the right to vote in select states. In the 1800s, voting rights were pushed to the limits, calling for allowing men who didn't own land or pay taxes to vote, along with immigrants who knew they would become citizens later in life. According to the authors of dosomething.org (2012), “In 1870, the Fifteenth… half the newspaper… people who don't vote! Americans are becoming less informed about the issues they face and the candidates running for office. However, according to Longley (2011) “However, 93% of infrequent voters agree that voting is an important part of being a good citizen and 81% of non-voters agree that it is an important way to express their opinions on issues affecting their families and communities." ” (p. 1). In conclusion, voting is an opportunity to express yourself. The vote has a long and elaborate background. People in colonial times went through a significant amount of laws and regulations about who couldn't vote and who could. It led to Americans receiving our voting rights, even today. However, many people may not vote, it is important to know the context, the reasons for voting and the reasons why people choose not to vote.