Final answer:
The author likens being a citizen without the right to vote to being in a rowboat without oars, indicating a lack of agency and influence over the government's direction. Supporting details include historical disenfranchisement's impact on representation and a quote about unvoiced concerns being overlooked by public officials.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the author compares being a citizen without the right to vote to “sitting in a rowboat without any oars”, she means that just as one would be stranded and unable to steer in a boat without oars, a citizen without the right to vote lacks the means to have a say or influence in the direction their government takes. Voting is a key form of participation in a democracy, a way for individuals to exercise their civic responsibility and voice their opinions on how they are governed. Depriving citizens of the right to vote, therefore, renders them powerless, much like being adrift in a rowboat without any means to propel oneself.
As to the details from the article to support this response, the disenfranchisement of certain groups throughout U.S. history exemplifies how vital the right to vote is and how its absence can lead to a lack of representation and influence on public policy. Moreover, the statement by professors Schlozman, Verba, and Brady that “Public officials cannot consider voices they do not hear” supports the idea that without voting rights, citizens' concerns and needs may go unheeded. Thus, the author's metaphor underscores the frustration and helplessness felt by those denied a fundamental element of political participation and highlights the significance of the ongoing struggles for universal suffrage.