Voter Suppression: An American Social Justice Issue

Voter suppression has been a problem in the United States of America since its beginnings. Written in 1787, the US Constitution states that all men are created equal. However, in the last 234 years, this ideal has been tested in the form of suffrage, the right to vote in political elections. At the time when the Constitution was written, only land-owning white men could vote (History). “By not giving U.S. citizens an explicit constitutional right to vote, the Founding Fathers effectively decoupled voting rights from citizenship and denied those whom states barred from voting any recourse through the federal government” (Photograph). Since then, amendments and laws have adjusted and defined the rights of a voter. In America, the issue of voter suppression is both relevant and important. Its history, progress, and future give Americans a chance to recognize the problem and partake in actions to resolve voter suppression.

The history of voter suppression goes back to the founding of our nation and has had lasting consequences on American Democracy. In the 1960s, Jim Crow laws suppressed the African American vote through poll taxes, literacy tests, English-language requirements, and intimidation. In 1980, the National Ballot Security Task Force used purposeful intimidation to keep black Americans from casting their vote. Another example took place in New Jersey when armed voter officials were sued for directing Black voters away from the polls (Roos). Jim Crow laws have lasted for nearly a century in Mississippi and according to statistics from the National Low Income Housing Coalition. In 1892, the number of African American men registered to vote in Mississippi fell from above 90% to below 6% (Photograph). For the last 70 years, it has been the goal of white supremacists to suppress the Black vote and ensure their power and rule.

The US Constitution has been amended in an attempt to address the problem of voter suppression. The 15th amendment was ratified in 1870 as an attempt to stop voter discrimination. The amendment gave each state the ability to decide who could vote. However, most states chose to suppress the vote and the 15th amendment did not make much progress (Photograph). The 19th amendment became a part of the US Constitution in 1920 which gave women the right to vote. 42 years later, the 24th amendment was for the purpose of outlawing poll tax. During President Johnson’s term in 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed. It was a large step forward, granting the right to vote to African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants. During the Vietnam War, young adults were motivated to pass the 26th amendment because they could be drafted into the war at 18, but could not vote until age 21. Some court cases have been crucial in both preventing and protecting the right to vote. In 2013, Shelby County v Holder gave individual states more freedom which they used to suppress (History). In 1962, the Reynolds v Simms case protected the right to vote and emphasized voter importance (Prosecuting).

Voter suppression in the United States has made progress but there is still a long way to go before it accurately represents our country and every vote is counted. In a 2016 poll, 46% of Muslim voters were asked to confirm their identification while only 32% of non-Muslim voters were asked to confirm their identification (Across). In the 2020 primary, of 200 voters that had objections filed against them, 199 were Muslim (History). Religious-based suppression is not new: Maryland banned Jewish people from voting until 1828. “Regardless of religion or race, every eligible vote is crucial to preserving the legitimacy of our government. Disenfranchising certain populations is an abhorrent practice victimizing marginalized communities to censor their voice and stunt their political power—but we will not be silenced,” says the New York branch’s executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Afaf Nasher. Because of ongoing suppression, there has been an expansion of the Voters Right Act, translating the ballot into other languages. In 1993, the National Voter Registration Act was passed which allowed for mail-in registration and provided public assistance with registration (History). This made it easier for the elderly and those with disabilities to register as voters.

Discreet rejection of absentee votes, strict verification laws, misinformation, and the reduction of poll access are among the most common forms of oppression happening today. There have been “robocalls” announcing a new election date, official-looking mail with penalties for voting, phone calls with the wrong mailing address, and a campaign manager convicted for suppression (Anderson). The Internet Research Agency, which is a Russian operation associated with President Vladimir Putin, spread messages to Americans in 2016 that they could now vote by text, which has never been allowed in the history of the United States (Digital). In 2014, a candidate in Kansas paid for an ad spreading the message that proof of citizenship would now be needed to register to vote.

In the future, numerous things can be done to prevent voter suppression. The Civil Rights Commission is urging congress to revive the federal oversight and power of the Voting Rights Act. If it is restored, states will have less power for suppression (ACLU). The Attorney General can designate a special attorney for protecting votes. Their job would be to investigate and enforce signs of voter suppression. As a senator, President Biden worked to extend and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. He also co-sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1990 to help protect against discrimination based on employment (Klar). In December 2019, he stated, “And if I am elected president, I will make voter protection a foundation of my administration.” With the potential of a new administration, executive actions can be taken to improve the rights of voters. The Biden Harris Administration has the possibility to enforce federal voting laws which would help restore and maintain voting rights for those in the military, overseas, and incarcerated citizens (125,000 people) who will be released before the next election (ACLU). By passing several acts and making executive decisions, the fundamental right to vote in the United States can be secured and protected.

The 2020 election was a milestone in terms of voter turnout. Over 159 million voters participated and the US had the highest eligible voters in 120 years. Over 70% of voters voted early with 77 million Americans voting by mail (Garrison). This proves that especially during a global pandemic, absentee voting has become extremely popular and its validity must be maintained. Many voters chose to vote by mail due to the fear of contracting COVID-19 from busy polls on election day. While these numbers are shocking, many cases are being made concerning the 2020 election and there has been evidence of voter suppression. A recent study by the Center for American Progress found that provisional ballots were more common in polling places with a higher percentage of minorities. That being said, more than 25% of provisional ballots are not fully counted or entirely rejected, silencing the voices of millions of Americans. Further, voter suppression is harder to track but does exist behind the closed doors of ballot counting locations.

With online sources being used more and more, technological misinformation is the voter suppression method of the future. Misinformation is frequently found in the form of “fake news.” Technology can absolutely be used as a weapon with hackers and cyber-terrorists controlling information citizens see and read. Minority groups and vulnerable populations are the most targeted when it comes to misinformation (Geiger). “Information on the internet has increasingly been weaponized in ways that attack the fundamentals of the Enlightenment, most especially shared truth, which modern democracies are based upon,” says Peter W. Singer, the director and initial creator of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence. According to Pew Research, more Americans get their news from a source of social media than print newspapers, 4/10 American adults get their news from Facebook, and 1 out of every 5 Americans get their news from social media. When online media is untrustworthy, it threatens democracy.

There are several ways to fight and address voter suppression. State and local election officials can have a great influence by publicizing correct information and sharing official sources (Digital). These official sources must be regularly updated to portray accurate information that is up-to-date. By political sources getting verified on social media, citizens can know what is accurate and who they are listening to. Using “hashtags” can effectively filter out irrelevant and incorrect information. Digital monitoring services such as MITRE are designed to find and address suppression (Digital). Monitoring can effectively pinpoint suppression on the internet and is most effective when focused on relevant jurisdiction.

The dilemma of voter suppression in the US is pertinent and significant. This social justice issue’s history, progress, and future allow citizens to resolve this problem with knowledge and purpose. Voter suppression is a well-known issue by both suppressed voters and political figures. Senators and congressmen are fully aware of the suppression and must take action. “The targets of these tactics seem to always be the same: racial minorities, immigrants and poor communities,” says Sander Martin Levin who served in the US House of Representatives for 36 years. However, common citizens can also play a role in stopping voter suppression. Americans have been marching, fighting, and speaking out in support of voter equality for years. It is important that our future generations are aware of this problem so they can address its effects and learn from the mistakes of history.

Works Cited

“Digital Disinformation and Vote Suppression.” Brennan Center for Justice, 6 Jan. 2021, www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/digital-disinformation-and-vote-suppression.

“ACLU News & Commentary.” American Civil Liberties Union, www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/president-elect-bidens-voting-rights-to-do-list/.

“Across the Country, Muslims Are Fighting Voter Suppression and Intimidation.” Religion & Politics, 17 Nov. 2020, religionandpolitics.org/2020/10/27/across-the-country-muslims-are-fighting-voter-suppression-and-intimidation/.

Anderson, Janna, and Lee Rainie. “Themes of Digital Disruption of Democracy in the next Decade.” Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center, 31 May 2020, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/02/21/themes-about-the-digital-disruption-of-democracy-in-the-next-decade/.

Garrison, Joey. “Voter Turnout 2020: Early Voting Tops 100 Million Ballots Cast.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 3 Nov. 2020, www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/03/voter-turnout-2020-early-voting-tops-100-million/6133004002/.

Geiger, A.W. “Key Findings about the Online News Landscape in America.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 30 May 2020, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/09/11/key-findings-about-the-online-news-landscape-in-america/

“History of Voter Suppression.” National Low Income Housing Coalition, 23 Sept. 2020, nlihc.org/resource/history-voter-suppression.

Klar, Rebecca. “Biden Vows to Make 'Voter Protection a Foundation' of His Administration in New Op-Ed.” TheHill, The Hill, 23 Dec. 2019, thehill.com/homenews/campaign/475761-biden-vows-to-make-voter-protection-a-foundation-of-his-administration-in.

Photograph by George Grantham Bain Collection. “Voter Suppression Has Haunted America since It Was Founded.” History & Culture, 21 Aug. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/history/reference/united-states-history/voter-suppression-haunted-united-states-since-founded/.

“Prosecuting Vote Suppression by Misinformation.” Columbia Law School, web.law.columbia.edu/public-integrity/Prosecuting-Vote-Suppression-By-Misinformation.

Roos, Dave. “How Voter Suppression Works.” HowStuffWorks, HowStuffWorks, 15 May 2012, people.howstuffworks.com/voter-suppression2.htm.

Pictured Below: (May 2020) Writing postcards to remind citizens to register to vote