Voter Suppression

At this point in an election year, it’s difficult to go a significant amount of time without some reminder of the upcoming election. TV commercials, ads, texts, calls, and yard signs feel ever-present. Americans have November 3rd marked off to cast their votes, but this year comes with its own set of challenges. 

As shown by the primary elections that took place earlier this year, lines may be outrageously long—especially in minority neighborhoods. Earlier in 2020, a white elections consultant suggested closing polling locations in ten of Georgia’s largest black populated counties, and the southern state followed through. With the decrease in polling areas, lines are destined to stay long.

On the other hand, absentee ballots are available to those who don’t want to contend with the lines. This process, however, has revealed itself to be quite difficult. The U.S. Postal Service began removing mailboxes around the country, which Ernie Swanson, a spokesperson for USPS, explained as a result of “declining mail volume.”

With all the uncertainty this year created, Americans are understandably uneasy. President Trump’s untrue claims about mail-in voting have the potential to do unprecedented harm. According to a CNN article, election experts concluded that mail-in voting and electoral fraud “are exceedingly rare in the U.S.” Even U.S. intelligence officials found “no evidence that Russia or other countries are attempting to produce fake ballots or otherwise undermine mail-in voting.”

Trump’s opposition to mail-in ballots may ominously foretell his refusal to accept an election outcome he doesn’t favor.