Gualala Arts Lecture Series presents:
The Right to Vote

with Charlie Hitt
Monday, September 27, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Admission is $5

Most Americans think little about voting and many do not bother even registering. If they were to learn the history of voting in America, many would be shocked and none would take that right for granted again. This presentation on Monday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. by Charlie Hitt entitled "The Right to Vote" comes as the midterm election heats up and will offer an interesting perspective on the franchise in America.

When Charlie Hitt was asked to talk to the Point Arena High School civics class about his experiences in the 2008 election as a representative of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in North Carolina, he did some research on who had the right to vote and various restrictions that were placed on the process throughout our history. What he uncovered will surprise all but the most ardent history buffs and will confirm that truth is stranger than fiction.

In an entertaining and informative manner, Hitt will explore the evolution of the vote from its origins based on property ownership to the role of slavery, and the franchise history for Blacks and women. For instance, although the right of women to vote in federal elections did not occur in this country until after a hundred year struggle and a world war led to the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, each State and locality had widely different laws about women voting.

The talk will include historical cartoons and photos related to voting rights and Hitt will relate personal anecdotes from his work in North Carolina in November 2008 that offer a glimpse of how modern technology was used to curb voting abuses during that historic election.

After graduating from the University of Texas Law School, Hitt practiced law for eleven years before opening his own firm in 1991. In the 1980s and '90s he worked on a few Congressional campaigns in Texas. After retiring, he and his wife, Kathye, moved to Gualala in 1999. Both are active in many community projects.

After hearing what Charlie has to say, no one will be too excited about whatever transpires leading up to the midterm election this November. It will be just business as usual in a representative democracy. A $5 admission fee (not a poll tax) will be collected at the door.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.