Article I.
Declaration of Rights

Section 5. Elections

Select dates to read amendment and select a date from the dropdown to compare the changes.

Elections

Elections shall be free and equal; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage.

Of elections

Elections shall be free and equal.

Of the press

The printing presses shall be free to every person who undertakes to examine the proceedings of the legislature, or any branch of government: And no law shall ever be made to restrain the right thereof. The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the invaluable rights of man; and every citizen may freely speak, write and print on any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. In prosecutions for the publication of papers investigating the official conduct of officers, or men in a public capacity, or where the matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may be given in evidence: And, in all indictments for libels, the jury shall have a right to determine the law and the facts, under the direction of the court, as in other cases.

This item is based on 2 items:

VII.

That all Elections ought to be free, and that all Free Men having a Sufficient evident Common Interest with and Attachment to the Community, have a right to elect Officers, or to be elected into Office.

2 items are based on this item:

1790 Article IX. Section V

Compare > See Item >

1790 Article IX. Section VII

Compare > See Item >

Redlined Comparison between 1776 and 1874 Amendment (includes interim changes)

Removed from 1776 Added to 1874

Reset