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What are the most common methods of voter suppression used in modern democracies?

Rolanda Vigneron

Voter suppression has been a longstanding issue in modern democracies, and the methods employed to suppress the vote can take many forms. Some of the most common methods of voter suppression used in modern democracies include voter ID laws, voter roll purges, gerrymandering, and polling place closures.

One of the most widely employed methods of voter suppression is the use of voter ID laws. These laws require voters to present a specific form of government-issued identification before they are allowed to cast their ballot. While this may seem like a reasonable requirement, it can work to suppress the vote of groups who are less likely to have such identification. This often includes working-class citizens, people of color, and the elderly.

Another method of voter suppression is voter roll purges. This tactic involves removing names from the voter rolls, often under the guise of ensuring that only eligible voters are allowed to cast their ballots. However, these purges can be flawed and result in the wrongful removal of eligible voters who are then unable to vote on Election Day.

Gerrymandering is also a common method of voter suppression, as it involves redrawing district boundaries to favor one political party over another. This can result in the creation of “safe” districts, where a particular party is all but guaranteed to win the election, even if their opponent has more support among the voting population as a whole.

Finally, polling place closures are another method of voter suppression used in modern democracies. This tactic involves shutting down polling places in areas where a particular political party is unlikely to receive high levels of support. This can make it more difficult for citizens in those areas to cast their vote, and can lead to long lines and wait times for those who are able to make it to the polls.

While these methods of voter suppression are often employed in an attempt to maintain political power, they ultimately undermine democracy by preventing citizens from having a fair and equal say in the political process. As such, it is important for efforts to be made to combat these tactics and ensure that every eligible citizen is able to make their voice heard at the ballot box.