You know how it starts: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
And, as you also know, that document failed to secure the blessings of liberty for all Americans equally. The continued struggle to perfect the Constitution—with amendments and social change—is thus the story of this country’s evolution. While the 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments expanded the franchise to include naturalized citizens, Black men, and women, respectively, state and local laws undermined those victories by limiting access to the voting booth in various ways, including…