"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

These words from the Declaration of Independence are at the heart of our democracy in the United States. They were penned at stirring times, as colonial Americans fought the War of Independence against, among other things, a glaring injustice — taxation without representation.

Today, millions of Americans are working, paying taxes, living in the community, bringing up families, yet they are without a voice in local or national affairs. It's an inherent inequality in our system, one that seems to run counter to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence.

Historian Alexander Keyssar notes that in the 19th century, the United States was a pioneering country, a beacon of democratic rights. But he says that the United States ends up being quite slow to finish the job.

The recently reauthorized Voting Rights Act went a long way towards redressing imbalances. But it left one group of citizens behind. Says US Congressman John Lewis: "I just think the American people got to rise up. And not be quiet. Find a way to get in the way. And I think here today, we must see this as an extension of the civil rights movement. It is time for the American citizens to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble."

And the reasons for doing so are imperative. Alexis de Tocqueville, visiting this country in 1831, saw lively civic participation in local governments and communities, and praised the power and vitality of American democracy. Today, we face increasing disengagement and disenchantment with the political process. High incarceration rates and felony disfranchisement exacerbate that, creating a culture of indifference instead of a vibrant democracy.

Is a democracy inherently more democratic if it is more inclusive, invites more participation? It seems safe to say that most people would think so. We strive towards the democratic ideal of equality that de Tocqueville praised. But denying people the right to vote disproportionately affects minority communities and increases divisions in our society.

So let's not take people out of the political process by denying them the vote. Let's open up our political process, as John Lewis says, "and let all of our people come in."

Reference: Alexander Keyssar, "The Right To Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States" (Basic Books, 2000).