Of the People, by the People, for the People: A Documentary Record of Voting Rights and Electoral Reform (2 Volumes) - Hardcover

Baldino, Thomas J.; Kreider, Kyle L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0313385505 ISBN 13: 9780313385506

Publisher: Greenwood, 2010

Synopsis

The hotly disputed election of 2000 roused a generally complacent electorate to recognize the erosion of a basic rite of citizenship many had long taken for granted: the exercise of their right to vote. Since then, controversial technology for casting and counting ballots, as well as numerous initiatives intended to increase voter participation (or, in the case of voter identification laws, arguably to restrict it), have ensured that possible flaws in our electoral system are never far from public consciousness. We perceive these troubling developments as new, yet from the colonial period onward, our history has been marked by fierce political battles over who is entitled to vote and how. With over 100 documents, this book presents and analyzes the documentary record of this ongoing struggle.

Organized chronologically, this volume traces the legislative evolution of the franchise in America, as well as the significant federal and state court decisions that interpret the law to either extend or contract access to the vote. In each chapter a distinctive section offers examples of disputed elections (presidential and congressional) and the reform proposals that resulted, such as proposed constitutional amendments to eliminate the Electoral College.

About this title

About the Author

Thomas J. Baldino is currently the interim dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA. He is also professor of political science, teaching courses in American government and politics.

Kyle L. Kreider is assistant professor of political science at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

Reviews

In these volumes, authors Baldino and Kreider present the evolution of U.S. election law in historical documents. Volume 1 is subtitled Foundations of the Modern Franchise, 1660–1959, and volume 2 is subtitled The Development of the Modern Franchise, 1960–2009. Documents are grouped into chapters that follow a chronological order, although the documents themselves are not necessarily presented chronologically. There are more than 100 documents, including Supreme Court decisions, constitutional amendments, state laws, colonial charters, municipal ordinances, and party rules. A typical entry is that for “The Massachusetts Ballot Act of 1888.” It begins with a header listing the formal title of the document and date of passage along with a brief summary of its significance. (Massachusetts was the first state to adopt the secret ballot, which originated in Australia.) This header is followed by the document in full, and then an analysis of the document in electoral history. Special features of the set include tables, charts, maps, and other illustrations and 11 “Did You Know?” sidebars offering supplemental information. Both volumes contain finding tools such as the “List of Documents and Sidebars” and “Reader’s Guide to the Documents and Sidebars.” Page numbers would be helpful in the “List of Documents and Sidebars” as well as in the list of the documents prefacing each chapter, because it is hard to determine where each document’s treatment starts. The index, as well as a chronology and bibliography, are found in volume 2. These volumes supplement resources on U.S. history, law, and politics by drawing together a collection of documents on the right to vote and surrounding them with context. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. Also available as an e-book. --Jerry Carbone

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313385505
• ISBN 13: 9780313385506
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 689