In 2021, GOP lawmakers across the country passed at least 34 bills in 19 different state legislatures that severely limit the freedom to vote. These bills have now taken effect, and are already silencing the voice of the people. The GOP anti-voter laws are disenfranchising voters in numerous ways, including purging people from voter rolls, having partisan politicians take control of local election boards, and restricting access to mail-in ballots.
Some of the most troubling examples include:
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In Georgia, Republicans are using their new anti-voter law to take control of the Spalding County election board. This newly appointed member, having no experience in a government position related to elections, is now the controlling vote on the board. Right after the takeover, the board voted to cancel Sunday voting, a day that typically sees large percentages of Black and Democratic voters. Spalding County is not the only example; five other counties in Georgia saw partisan takeovers in election boards favoring the GOP. The anti-voting law also shortened the time people have to request and return mail ballots, prohibited election officials from sending such applications to all voters, and dramatically curtailed the use of ballot drop boxes, among other changes. This led to Georgians being 45 times more likely to have their ballot rejected in the recent 2021 elections than in the 2020 election, which could lead to over 38,000 Georgians having their voices silenced in a future presidential election.
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In Texas, SB1, a restrictive voting law passed in 2021, is already having devastating effects on hard-working Texans trying to make their voices heard. When requesting a mail-in ballot, this law requires individuals to provide a portion of their social security number or a driver’s license number that must match the voter registration record in state or county files. This puts a cumbersome burden on voters, which in some instances is impossible to fulfill. In the case of 95-year-old veteran Kenneth Thompson, who registered to vote in the 1940s, no number was required to register, making it near-impossible for Thompson to cast a ballot in Texas elections. Mail-in ballot requests have seen rejection rates upwards of 50% since the passing of SB1, preventing many individuals from voting in the upcoming primary election and other elections in the future.
Anti-voter bills passed into law by GOP lawmakers are already making it harder for Americans to access the ballot box and easier for self-serving politicians to sabotage our elections. This year, there are already more bills circulating through state legislatures that will further restrict the freedom to vote. The effects of anti-voter laws are alarming and dangerous, and we must elect candidates that will do whatever it takes to counter these anti-voter measures and protect voting rights in America.
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