GOP Voters Suppression Plan: Targeting Marginalized Communities
Hypocrisy is like a tin can kicked around the streets, and apparently in the US Capitol, the tin can gets plenty of kicks. “The American people can decide whether they want him to be president or not,” Graham said on Fox News after Trump was charged in a sprawling racketeering case stemming from his attempts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory in Georgia. “This should be decided at the ballot box, not a bunch of liberal jurisdictions trying to put the man in jail.” (Vanity Fair, August 15, 2023) The overarching nerve to recommend that voters should decide a person’s fate; after his party’s leading presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is under indictment for election interference. In addition, former President Trump is under federal indictment linked to the January 6 alleged insurrection and coup attempt to overthrow the 2020 Presidential election won by President Biden.
Perhaps Sen. Graham and his GOP understand more than we do about the lengths and depths of voter suppression within the American political election system. Therefore, petitioning voters to decide the fate of former President Trump appears like a winning idea. But, Republicans, who were once hailed as the Law & Order party, think prosecutors only charged Trump because he is running for President rather than the more obvious rationale – no one is above the law, and accountability and justice are necessary. GOP candidates consider elections unfair if they are not the winners. Surrogate conservative news outlets, like Fox News, provide a welcome Republican echo chamber to their GOP-supporting audience to denigrate our falsely described flawed democratic voting system. On the contrary, Members of the Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council, [the] CISA Assistant Director, the National Secretaries of State, and others called the 2020 election the “most secure in American history 1 (CBS News November 12, 2020).”
In recent years, election integrity has become a pressing issue in the United States. While both major political parties claim to advocate for fair and free elections, a disturbing trend has emerged within the ranks of the Republican Party. It appears that confident GOP leaders and lawmakers are endorsing strategies to suppress marginalized communities’ votes. In Texas and Florida, governors established increasingly more voter suppression laws and tactics to protect election integrity. This blatant attempt to manipulate the democratic process threatens the fundamental principles of equality and justice but also undermines the very essence of our democracy.
The Marginalized Communities in the Crosshairs:
It is no secret that marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, and the LGBTQ+ community, have historically faced barriers to political participation. This unwelcome reality has resulted in underrepresentation and the perpetuation of systemic inequalities. Instead of addressing these inequities, it is disheartening to witness some GOP leaders doubling down on voter suppression tactics that disproportionately affect these communities.
Voter ID Laws:
One of the most common methods employed by proponents of voter suppression is the implementation of strict voter identification laws. Ostensibly enacted to prevent voter fraud, these laws require voters to present government-issued IDs at the polls. While this may seem reasonable at first glance, the reality is that marginalized communities often face incredible difficulty in obtaining such IDs due to various socioeconomic factors.
Gerrymandering:
Another insidious tactic utilized by some GOP lawmakers is gerrymandering. By redrawing electoral districts in a way that favors their party, they effectively dilute the voting power of marginalized communities. This intentional manipulation of district lines allows politicians to choose their voters rather than the other way around,2 severely distorting democratic representation.
Closing Polling Stations:
Yet another concerning strategy is the deliberate closure of polling stations within marginalized communities. By reducing the number of accessible voting locations, particularly in areas with predominantly marginalized populations, the GOP effectively creates long lines and barriers to voting. This tactic disproportionately affects individuals without reliable transportation or who cannot afford to take time off work, denying them their right to participate in the democratic process.
Chilling Effect on Democracy:
The implications of these suppression tactics are immense. By targeting marginalized communities, the GOP seeks to suppress their votes and sends a message that their voices are not valued. This insidious strategy undermines the very foundation of our democracy, as it perpetuates systemic inequalities and diminishes the power of these communities to effect meaningful change.
The GOP’s voter suppression plan targeting marginalized communities is a profoundly troubling trend that voters cannot ignore. As journalists, we must highlight these injustices and hold those responsible accountable. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to uncover the truth, challenge misinformation, and fight for the principles of equality and justice that lie at the heart of our democracy. Only through heightened public awareness and dialogue can we hope to dismantle these barriers and ensure a truly inclusive and representative electoral process for all Americans.
Ohio county rejects Dominion voting machines in response to pressure from Trump supporters – CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-county-rejects-dominion-voting-machines-trump-pressure/
Shella, J. (2017). Forcing Republicans, Democrats to work together. Indianapolis Business Journal, 38(38), 6B.
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