Introduction
More new restricted voting laws were already proposed by politicians than at this point last year as state legislative sessions for 2022 get underway. Additionally, they have been introducing legislation aimed at undermining the voting system. Hundreds of voting restriction proposals have been submitted by politicians since 2020, and many of them have become law.
Discussion
It includes limiting voting by mail, increasing voter ID requirements, decreasing polling places and reducing voting time, deleting inactive voters from the voter list, and expanding voter oversight (Horton, 2022). The distribution of postal ballots or ballot applications would be prohibited under at least six laws in five states unless a voter explicitly requests it (Voting Laws Roundup, 2022). Election officials in Missouri would be vulnerable to criminal prosecution and maybe jail under one of these measures (Voting Laws Roundup, 2022). This contrasts sharply with the six states that have passed legislation mandating that postal ballots be automatically mailed to every voter in every election.
The goal of the stringent legislation is to make voting more difficult for those who typically support their party. Many of the hundreds of proposals that Republican state lawmakers have submitted would make it harder for alternate electors to vote. It reflects the bogus assertions by former president Donald Trump that lax election regulations allowed fraud to taint the 2020 presidential election (Viebeck, 2021). In three states, thirteen pieces of legislation would limit who is eligible to obtain an absentee ballot (Voting Laws Roundup, 2022). Several Missouri legislation would mandate that the caregiver of a person who is ill or disabled must live at the same address as that person to cast an absentee ballot (Voting Laws Roundup, 2022). No-excuse mail voting has been suggested for elimination by Virginia legislators.
Conclusion
Democrats counter that making voting more difficult will disenfranchise poorer, marginalized groups. The measures, mostly passed in states with a Republican governor, are supported by those who believe they are required to stop election fraud. However, I think due to stricter regulations about providing ballot assistance, certain restrictive laws make it more difficult for people who are disabled or who have linguistic problems. Since wealthier individuals have more time and resources to navigate bureaucracies, limiting people’s voting capacity hurts poor people more severely and directly.
References
Horton, J. (2022). US midterms: How will new voting laws affect the election? BBC. Web.
Viebeck, E. (2021). Here’s where GOP lawmakers have passed new voting restrictions around the country. The Washington Post. Web.
Voting laws roundup: February 2022. (2022). Brennan Center for Justice. Web.