Why Protecting Voter Rights Is Still A Fight
Suffrage is not guaranteed.
Today is the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the National Voter Registration Act, also called the Motor Voter Act. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, it feels odd to think that the right to vote may be in danger. Then again, a year ago, the idea of the President of the United States, even this current one, accepting a fabulously expensive jet from a foreign power or SCOTUS reconsidering birthright citizenship also seemed nuts. So let’s give it a go, shall we?
Suffrage, the right to vote, is one of the most sacred rights we possess as Americans. Voter suppression, which prevents Americans from exercising their right to vote and strips citizens of their legal rights, is antithetical to our democratic process. However hard won rights are never once and done. And the National Voter Registration Act, which finally helped simplify the voter registration process all of three decades ago, is no more or less vulnerable than any number of landmark decisions we think will never go away. Roe and the Dobbs decision comes to mind.
But in order to fight voter suppression, we need to know how it started and what it looks like today. And now is the time to do it, before everyone heads into the summer. Why? Because there are no more “off years.”
There is an election happening somewhere – every month, every year, nationwide. It downballot, in small towns, and it’ll make few to no headlines. But it’s the grassroots, the bedrock of democracy that shapes the larger picture, and quite often the democracy that we are more likely going to experience on a daily basis.
It’s the local zoning laws, school board bond issue, restaurant tax rate, water and conservation board….you name it. It’s the local issue that is far removed from Capitol Hill, but far more present and relevant to our daily lives. And 2025 is going to be a bellwether year: in addition to two gubernatorial races (New Jersey and Virginia) and five big city mayoral races (Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, New York City, San Antonio), there are going to be literally thousands of school board and city hall races.
Here’s an explanation on voter suppression, both in history and present day, and how we can fight it in our daily lives.
Voter Suppression: A Definition
Voter suppression is the use of specific tactics with the intent to restrict who votes in an election, and manipulate its results.
These tactics include, but are not limited to:
Voter ID laws
Cuts to early voting
Systematic disenfranchisement
Purges of voter rolls
These tactics purposely deter eligible voters across the nation from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Most restrictive voting laws end up targeting minorities: Black voters, the elderly, students, and people with disabilities.
The History of Voter Suppression
It’s no surprise that the history of voter suppression is intertwined with the history of voting in the United States. After the Civil War, the 15th Amendment ratified in 1870, extended the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. On paper, the amendment ensured African American men’s right to vote.
But in 1877, a series of laws, known as the Jim Crow voting laws, were imposed to suppress the Black vote. These restrictions included discriminatory requirements to vote, like literacy tests and poll taxes. While the Voting Rights Act of 1965 repealed many of these Jim Crow voting laws, it did not end voter suppression.
Voter Suppression Today
Despite the progress we’ve made, voter suppression is still prevalent today. Polling places are less accessible to people and the restrictive voter ID requirements have affected vulnerable communities. A study published by researchers from the University of California San Diego found that the impact of voter ID laws has differentially affected the voter turnout for Hispanics, Black and mixed-race Americans in both primary and general elections.
The SAVE ACT, a bill passed by the House and currently in the Senate, is a recent example of voter suppression. The bill requires in-person proof of citizenship to register to vote and effectively ends registering by mail or online. As a result, it will be increasingly difficult for anyone who has a legal name that differs from the one on their birth certificate to register to vote. Do the math: this mainly targets married women who change their last name and would affect about 69 million women and 4 million men.
Take a Deep Breath, Have a Plan to Vote
This is a lot to take in, so it’s important to pause for a moment. We can’t combat the problem when we’re too overwhelmed by it.
Fortunately, there are concrete steps we can take to fight voter suppression. You can even join active groups currently fighting it. Check out Fair Fight, The League Of Women Voters, and When We All Vote.
Also, this is also why you’ll find a lot of organizers and volunteers coming at you in the fall with questions like “do you have a voting plan?”
It’s not because they think you aren’t planning to vote. It’s because they want to make sure you know how you’re getting to your polling station, whether you have the right documentation and identification to present when you get there, and frankly, whether you have the day and a schedule planned out so you’re not waiting outdoors in a long line in terrible weather because you didn’t get out of work in time.
It’s because they want to make very sure that if you’re going to be working on Election Day, you know the process and proper procedures to vote early or vote by mail and don’t end up having your vote be tossed out on a technicality. Because voting by mail is a safe, efficient way to exercise your right to vote. However, it has also become a target for restrictive voting laws across the country.
They want to know if you have a voting plan so you can fight unexpected voter suppression curveballs.
Get up to speed on GOTV if you’re a candidate or a staffer
Voting should be safe and accessible. If you’re running for office or working on a campaign, learning about state and federal voting rights is critical to your success. The Brennan Center For Justice, your state ACLU affiliate, and 866 Our Vote. 866 Our Vote also has an election protection hotline, where trained volunteers can be reached by call, text, Whatsapp, and Facebook Messenger.
At NDTC we run several trainings and courses that can help you protect your community’s right to vote, and help you win your race.
If you’re short of time and want a couple of quick starter courses, check out:
GOTV – designed specifically for candidates, and everyone from campaign staff to local leaders, to develop methods and mobilize voters during GOTV.
Build a Vote-by-Mail Program for Your Campaign – which will help your campaign create and execute a vote-by-mail program. You'll learn how to establish a vote-by-mail budget, track voter contact, and ensure absentee ballots are received by your state board of elections.
Running a Voter Registration Program – figure out how to identify the voter registration laws specific to your district, and more.
Got a bit more time? Want to dig deeper? Check out:
Prepare Your Campaign For GOTV – a detailed, six part lesson plan that will cover everything from how to use VoteBuilder for data management to figuring out who your voters are and developing your persuasion universe.
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