by Frankie DeFaria (staff writer)

The right to vote is arguably the largest responsibility that we have as American citizens, yet, for millions that right is slowly being stripped away as state legislation passes voter suppression laws. This has led to a nationwide obstacle for eligible voters trying to exercise one of their greatest fundamental constitutional rights. Since 2008, states across the country have taken legislative measures that make it harder for Americans–specifically Black people, the elderly, students, low-income people, and people with disabilities–to cast a ballot in local, state, and national elections. Some of these added obstacles include cuts to early voting, voter ID laws, and purges to voter rolls. 

Before understanding the imminent threat to this foundational aspect of our role as citizens, it is vital to look at the history behind voter suppression. Voter suppression is hardly a new phenomenon in America. Even after the 15th amendment was passed, saying that “the right of citizens… to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race [or] color,” legislative barriers were still put in place to prevent people of color from voting. These included poll taxes and the Grandfather Clause, which required voters of color to pay a fee in order to vote and claimed people could only vote if their grandfather could vote, respectively. These restrictive measures effectively blockaded the vote of millions of citizens; while they have since then been nullified, it is still happening. 

Gerrymandering is one example of a long-practiced method to suppress voting rights. “Gerrymandering is when the lines of districts from which public officials are elected are drawn to manipulate the boundaries to predetermine the outcome of elections, hindering voters from voicing their interests through their votes,”(ACLU). Gerrymandering redistricts in a way that uses a district’s population and racial and ethnic diversity so that the votes of marginalized people are effectively rendered insignificant. 

More recently, since the 2020 election, state lawmakers in 14 different states have passed over 22 laws that restrict ballot access, most prevalently making it harder to vote absentee by mail. This recent Republican effort to restrict voting access is fueled by the record turnout and results of the 2020 presidential election, and these 22 laws are not the end; state lawmakers have introduced 389 bills in 48 states that would maker harder for their residents to vote in upcoming elections, most pervasively in Texas, Georgia, and Arizona. 

So, what can we do to fight against voter suppression? The ACLU is an extensive resource to take action. Donate– in order to fund their efforts against voter suppression. Stay informed– be up to date on recent courses of action to both suppress voter rights and in the fight against them. Spread awareness– there is strength in numbers, and people should be conscious about the threat to the fundamental right to cast a ballot, a threat against our independence. 

Sources: 

Gerrymandering

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/28/politics/voter-suppression-restrictive-voting-bills/index.html

Fighting Voter Suppression