In order to protect our rights even as times change, our founding fathers created a process to amend the Constitution. These amendments have granted us many rights like free speech, due process of law, and freedom to all people, but there are still inequalities in our country. I propose that the next amendment to the constitution should grant citizens of territories of the United States the right to vote. 

In 1952, The United States declared that “All persons born in Puerto Rico on or after January 13, 1941,... are citizens of the United States at birth.” (8 USC 1402: Persons Born in Puerto Rico on or After April 11, 1899, n.d.) Assuming that all Puerto Ricans are (and have been for a long time) citizens of the United States, legally they should be able to enjoy the same rights as citizens of the continental US. One of our most important rights as Americans is the right to vote. Our 26th Amendment states, “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States government.” (U.S. Constitution - Twenty-Sixth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress, n.d.) Based on this information it is clear that denying Puerto Ricans the right to vote is unconstitutional. And this problem doesn't just apply to Puerto Rico. The U.S. currently controls five inhabited territories with nearly 4 million people living there. This includes places like American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, The U.S Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Historically there have been a few attempts to give territories voting rights both from the U.S. government, and the people of its territories. In 2000, a group of Puerto Ricans got ready to vote in the presidential election. The Governor said, “We, under state law, will hold the presidential ballot … and we will go to whatever forum we have to go to to make sure that those votes are counted,” Rossello said, adding Puerto Rico would have eight Electoral College votes — more than 25 other states.” (Gevirtz, n.d.) Unfortunately, the U.S Federal Government denied these votes, but the people of Puerto Rico haven't given up. 

The lack of voting rights is a very important issue because its effects go deeper than the surface. Since territories are required to follow U.S. laws they should be able to vote on them. These restrictions also affect things like the health and safety of citizens. One thing I found interesting was said by the nonvoting representative of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Stacey Plaskett in a congress meeting on the issue of voting rights for territories. She says, “This lack of equal representation and equal voting power has a direct correlation to persistent poverty across all of the U.S. territories. Americans living in the territories are accustomed to being last in line for hurricane relief, for COVID-19 equipment, for basic healthcare, education, and more. All five territories have significantly lower per capita income than sStates, yet are subject to arbitrary eligibility barriers and funding caps that limit their poorest residents to much needed fFederal benefits, like Medicaid and SSI, as well as the formulas for roads and education and more.” (- VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER TERRITORIES, n.d.)

In order for this amendment to even be proposed it must be worded correctly and specifically. While revisions would need to be made Ii propose an amendment saying “All persons 18 years of age or older, who reside in a U.S. territory and is a citizen of the Uunited Sstates shall be granted the same right to vote as citizens of the mainland U.S. in county, state, and federal elections” Another way this amendment could be proposed is as a modification to the 26tTh amendment to include citizens of U.S. Territories 

Like with any amendment, giving U.S. territories the right to vote will have some pushback. Historically, deep red states like Ohio and Alabama have strongly opposed things like immigration. Based on their previous voting histories these states would most likely oppose sharing power. In order to reclaim these votes we would have to make a convincing argument and assure people that this amendment will only lift others and it won't infringe on or lessen the rights of mainland U.S. citizens.

In conclusion, it is unconstitutional to deny the citizens of U.S. territories the right to vote, but despite this, the United States government still doesn't recognize votes from territories. In order to protect this right we must make an amendment stating that citizens of U.S territories have the same voting rights as citizens of the mainland U.S. While there will be some pushback with the right campaign it is entirely possible to get this amendment passed. 

References

8 USC 1402: Persons born in Puerto Rico on or after April 11, 1899. (n.d.). U.S. Code. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1402&num=0&edition=prelim

Gevirtz, L. (n.d.). Puerto Ricans Fight for Right to Vote. ABC News. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=122776&page=1

U.S. Constitution - Twenty-Sixth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress. (n.d.). Constitution Annotated. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-26/

- VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER TERRITORIES. (n.d.). GovInfo. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-116hhrg41333/html/CHRG-116hhrg41333.htm