Who Picks Our Elected Leaders? The Evolution of the American Vote

September 21, 2026

Eric Loepp, Associate Professor, Politics, Government, and Law

The right to vote is often described as the cornerstone of American democracy, but it has never been static, universal, or uncontested. From the nation’s founding to the present day, the scope and scale of the electorate – that is, who gets to vote - has evolved through conflict, reform, and sustained civic engagement. Join us for a dynamic journey across time as we look back over America’s first 250 years and explore the history of suffrage and political participation in the United States. We will examine how voting rights expanded and how each transformation reshaped public policy, political institutions, and civic life. Along the way, we’ll highlight key moments, movements, and individuals who fought to widen the circle of participation. We’ll also consider ongoing debates about how we can best strike a balance between promoting voting access as well as preserving election security. Whether you’re interested in history, current political events, the future of democracy, or all of the above, join us for an engaging conversation about one of the defining elements of the American experiment – who picks our elected leaders?