This summary by the Brennan Center provides a good overview:
“After the 2010 election, state lawmakers nationwide started introducing hundreds of harsh measures making it harder to vote. The new laws range from strict photo ID requirements to early voting cutbacks to registration restrictions.
Overall, 20 states have new restrictions in effect since then — 10 states have more restrictive voter ID laws in place (and six states have strict photo ID requirements), seven have laws making it harder for citizens to register, six cut back on early voting days and hours, and three made it harder to restore voting rights for people with past criminal convictions.
In 2016, 14 states had new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a presidential election. Those 14 states were: Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
In 2017, legislatures in Arkansas and in North Dakota passed voter ID bills, which governors in each state signed, and Missouri implemented a restrictive law that was passed by ballot initiative in 2016. Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, and New Hampshire have also enacted more restrictions this year, in addition to laws that were on the books for previous elections.”
Also see their Voting Laws Roundup 2017 published on February 3 2017. The news is not all negative: there are at least 308 bills to enhance voting access introduced in the 36 states and at least 46 bills to restrict access in 21 states.
Voter ID laws and their impact
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Oppose Voter ID Legislation Fact Sheet. December 2016 National Organization of Women (NOW). Voter Suppression Targets Women, Youth and Communities of Colour. (Issue Advisory, Part One).
Myths about voter fraud and Trump’s Advisory Commission on Electoral Integrity
The myth of voter fraud
Berman, Ari. “The Trump Administration’s Lies About Voter Fraud Will Lead to Massive Voter Suppression: Twenty one states are now considering new laws to make it harder to vote”. The Nation. February 13. 2017
Waldman, Michael. “Voting Fraud Inquiry? The Investigators Got Burned Last Time”. New York Times. January 26, 2017
The operation of the Advisory Commission
Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, infamous for his ‘voter caging’ tactics and founder of the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck now chairs this.
Data requests to states for voter information: this seems to be contributing to voter suppression. There are reports that voters are removing themselves from registers.
Hendry, Eric. “A Trump commission requested voter data. Here’s what every state is saying.” PBS. June 30 2917.
Hsu, Spencer. “Federal judge allows Trump commission’s nationwide voter data request to go forward.” Washington Post. July 24, 2017.
Purging and caging
Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck has been a key player in attempts to purge registered voters.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is intended for educational use and offered as a public service. Any views expressed should not be understood as representing or reflecting the views of Democrats Abroad UK, Democrats Abroad or the Democratic Party of the United States. Links to other organizations or publications imply neither endorsement of their policies nor any association with the Democratic Party or Democrats Abroad – UK
