ELECTIONS
Voter Suppression
Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. The goal is to manipulate political outcomes, and the result is a severely compromised democracy that does not reflect the will of the people. Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard.
Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. And long before election cycles even begin, legislators can redraw district lines that determine the weight of your vote. Certain communities are particularly susceptible to suppression and in some cases, outright targeted — people of color, students, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Here are some examples of ways used to suppress the vote, get more details in our Learn More section below:
- Voter ID Laws
- Voter Registration Restrictions
- Voter Purges
- Felony Disenfranchisement
- Gerrymandering – see our Issues page on Gerrymandering
- Absentee Ballot Obstacles
Learn More:
Check out this page from the ACLU – with a ton of great information discussing the various methods of voter suppression.
Read this Frontline article discussion voter suppression in the Wisconsin April 2020 election when, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, Republicans forced the election to move forward.
What Can I Do?
- At an individual level, the best way to fight voter suppression is to vote.
- Tell your senators to pass the VRAA, which would reinstate critical protections against voter suppression left behind after the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in 2013.
- Know Your Rights before you get to the polling booth. Here’s a guide on what to do if you face registration issues, need disability or language accommodations, or come across someone who’s interfering with your right to vote. Share the guide on Facebook and Twitter to spread the word.
ISSUES ARCHIVE:
