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As voter suppression laws attempt to dilute minority voting power, there are a few small steps you can take to attempt to overcome some of these measures and have your voice heard on Election Day.
Keep scrolling to learn how you can fight for your right to vote at the polls!
What is voter suppression?
Voter suppression is any attempt to hinder or discourage a certain group of people from registering to vote or casting their ballot. These measures have historically and overwhelmingly targeted Black Americans but can be put in place to target any aspect of a voter's identity, including race, political affiliation, age, and more.
Measures to suppress the Black vote date back to Jim Crow Era. Once Black men were permitted to vote following the adoption of the 15th Amendment in 1870, a wave of measures known as Jim Crow laws were enacted in Southern states to prevent their participation.
Voter suppression strategies such as poll taxes and literacy tests hindered poor and Black voters from voting until the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, which was meant to protect minority voters from any form of discrimination.
However, the Supreme Court moved to remove key protections of the Voting Rights Acts in 2013 with the Shelby v Holder decision. Since then, anti-voter bills have popped up in states across the nation and become law.
Forms of Voter Suppression
Some of the most widely enacted forms of voter suppression include discriminatory voter ID and proof-of-citizenship restrictions, limited polling place hours in communities of color, the reduction of early voting opportunities, and illegal purges of voters from the rolls.
Following the 2020 election and unprecedented Black and Brown voter turnout, Georgia officials moved to sign SB 202 into law which has reduced the number of ballot boxes in minority communities, limited voting hours, added additional voter ID requirements, and made it illegal to provide those waiting in line with food or water, among other measures.
Voter suppression laws in Texas have also expanded protection for partisan poll watchers, or volunteers from major parties that observe the voting and vote-counting process, in an attempt to intimidate voters.
What You Can Do To Overcome Voter Suppression
1. Check your voter registration status.
This is the first step in gearing up for the midterm elections. Eligible voters should check that their registration is updated with their current address. First-time voters looking for information on how to register and those looking to check their registration status can check out vote.gov.
2. Know the dates and deadlines for your local election.
Make sure you know the deadline for when to register to vote, early voting, and voting by mail. These dates can differ by state, so it is important to find out as soon as possible to ensure you'll be able to cast your ballot.
3. Have an Election Day plan.
Have a plan in place for what polling location you will be traveling to come election time. Be prepared to stay in long lines -- Wear weather-appropriate clothing in case you have to wait outside, bring your own snacks and water, and make sure you have the necessary identification to vote.
4. Consider working at the polls
Having representation at the polls matters and can help suppress voter intimidation.
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