Why would people risk their lives to stand up for the right to vote?

I'd like to think that these people that stand up and risk their lives to vote would be because they want to make a change. 

They'd do anything it takes to make things what they think is right and to vote for what they want because every persons opinion deserves to be heard.

Hope this helps.

Many women would risk their lives to stand up for the right to vote. in your question, you said people, however, men have always been able to vote but it was women, e.g the suffragettes, who have been unequally treated in the past, present, and maybe even the future because there will always be those people who disagree. 
many women risk their lives for the vote mostly for their children, and their children's children and so on. when these women take on the role of fighting for the vote, they are always aware that they may die, so they have fought for future equality, not always present equality.    

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