Voting Suppression in the South, Still?
- niacemoneharris
- Sep 8, 2020
- 3 min read
Getty Images: 2013
As America experiences an important election year, many U.S citizens are counting on their local government to ensure that each vote is properly submitted towards their favored presidential candidate. However, communities in southern states are still facing the challenge of a corrupted voting system. Since the beginning of the Reconstruction time period and the introduction of Jim Crow Laws, voting suppression has existed in the south for hundreds of years. Why are civilians still fighting this battle today?
On June 25, 2013, the U.S Supreme Court dramatically weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, outlawing racial discrimination in voting. As stated by the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Voting Rights Practice Group (SPLC), “The Shelby County v. Holder decision
meant that states with histories of racial discrimination were no longer required to pre-clear
changes in voting rules with the federal government before they went into effect,” The repercussions of this decision have been traumatic for potential voters in the south during any electoral process. For example, restricting voting rights of returning citizens, instituting onerous voter ID laws, limiting access to voting by mail, and other measures that have greatly affected minority groups across the South. As a result of the U.S Supreme Court’s ruling, voting suppression continues and is not hidden at all due to the media and technology we possess today in America. Voting Suppression in the South was widely covered on the national news recently during the last Governor election in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2018. The video put out by CBS Philly on “Voter Suppression Allegations Growing In Georgia Governor's Race," highlights many of the unmannered strategies that were taken place during the electoral process, and the event has unfortunately left many citizens pondering on this question, “Does my vote even matter?”
“Voter Suppression Allegations Growing In Georgia Governor's Race," CBS Philly
How will this affect the future state of America?
If no changes are made to enforce state governments to conform to the federal government before making radical voting rule changes, there will be a devastating drop in the number of active voters which will diminish the democracy established in America. Leaders of the past, as well as the leaders of today including the SPLC, Vote Your Voice Campaign, and more are working hard towards restoring order to the Voting Rights Act. Without any order or change, many citizens will lose hope in their vote, so they will not vote at all. Sadly, we have seen in 2016, the lack of voting that happened in the Presidential Election. In 2016, only 55% of voting age citizens cast their ballot. If the federal and local governments fail to diminish suppression, it will continue to drop lower and lower.
Creator: ANGELA WEISS | Credit: AFP via Getty Images
What Can Be Done By The Youth in America?
Although the youth cannot participate in electing the local officials that will ensure fair voting policies, those under 18 can help make an impact and help end suppression. Donations can be made to voting rights organizations like, VoteRiders and Election Protection. As a result of the corrupted mailing process, many teens have also found that they can offer rides to the polls to help increase turnout. We can encourage our peers who are eligible to register to vote through conversation and social media. There are also many petitions that can be signed targeting fixing The Voting Acts (some are listed below). Although teenagers, and those under the voting age of 18 do not have the ability to be involved in the voting process, reinforcing the importance of voting will bring more informed voters to cast their ballots in the following years.
Voting Rights Advancement Act, (Change.org)
Voting rights Act, (Move On)
Take Action to Protect Voting Rights with the ACLU, (Care2 Petitions)
Sources
Wallace, Gregory. “Voter Turnout at 20-Year Low in 2016.” CNN, Cable News Network, 30 Nov. 2016, www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/politics/popular-vote-turnout-2016/index.html.
“Voting Rights.” Southern Poverty Law Center, www.splcenter.org/our-issues/voting-rights.
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