Amendments to the constitution have establish the right.
As a society, we decided that tenants, people of non-white races, women, and 18-20 year olds should be allowed to vote. We also eliminated odious standards like counting then-slaves as 60% human.
I'm no expert and could be missing something. But it doesn't look to me like we have an "inalienable" right to vote. Various amendments do say that our right to vote can't be revoked for certain specific reasons, e.g.,:
- The 15th amendment prohibits denying the right to vote on certain grounds (race, color) but doesn't go beyond that.
- The 19th prohibits denying the right to vote based on sex.
- The 24th prohibits denying the right to vote (in certain federal elections) based on outstanding tax bills.
- The 26th prohibits denying citizens over 18 the right to vote based on age.
But this seems like a weirdly specific list. If the reason isn't on the list, is it still fair game? For instance, AFAIK some states don't let convicted felons vote.
We have a second amendment that talks about well-regulated militia broadly interpreted to mean all sorts of things, some I agree with, some I do not.
Likewise, we have multiple, progressive amendments to the constitution with a clear goal of enabling voting to the broadest possible scope.
I live in a state that requires that you be a citizen, age 18, and not be in prison or on parole. I think that’s a fair compromise over disqualification of felons, as you create 2nd tier of citizen by denying that right.
As a society, we decided that tenants, people of non-white races, women, and 18-20 year olds should be allowed to vote. We also eliminated odious standards like counting then-slaves as 60% human.