Shameful

Voter suppression: it doesn't work, it encourages irrational passions, it is un-American

Over the last several elections, with partisanship equally divided and fewer true independents in the system, getting your own partisans to the polls, has become the central strategy of political parties. 

This presents a difficulty for the Republican Party.  They would love to tighten up voting laws to lower voting participation for Democrats, but can they do this without limiting their own partisan vote.  There is little evidence to suggests election law “reform” will affect Democrats more than Republicans.

In fact, there were many new Republican voters in 2020, and that may be a bad sign for the GOP.  First time voters are less likely to vote a second time, because studies suggest that voting is generally a matter of habit.  It becomes “something that people like me do.”   It is a citizen responsibility and, if I had been seeing myself this way in the past (as this kind of a citizen), I wouldn’t have been a new” voter.

The Trump voter, unlike perhaps the traditional Republican voter could, therefore, be a one-time voter, once Trump is not on the ticket, especially if the act of voting is less convenient.  I also see the traditional and even the new Democratic voter, living in more densely populated urban areas, with strong church ties and labor union membership, as part of a community where social pressure and messaging encourage voting and will override efforts to suppress the vote.   

Party professionals are interpreting efforts by State governments to place barriers in the way of voting as likely to restrict Republican as well as Democrat turnout.  Perhaps, more so.  As a result, both parties are gearing up for the next elections by trying to intensify favorable and hostile emotions, motivators that will overcome obstacles.   

Republican and their social media allies will continue to ratchet up feelings of anger and hostility toward Democrats and Biden government policies.  The Democrats will be doing the same.  Rage, and its partner fear, are powerful stimulants for action.  You may remember how in past elections, the mushroom cloud ad against Goldwater, the  story of a  released murderer against governor Mike Dukakis and the communist enemy coming for your home and family, all raised the level of anger, increased voting and won elections. 

So, from a political science perspective one of the outcomes of voter suppression will be increased irrational emotions surrounding political issues and candidates. 

But, I must go further, not as a political scientist but as a citizen and a believer in what has been a fundamental part of our national “soul.”  Any attempt to suppress voting is shameful.  It is un-American. Let’s talk about the true history of this nation.  Since before the Revolution people have laid their lives on the line to protect and extend the right to vote.   And they have met with resistance, violent and covert.  Why?  Because “the vote” is the single strongest weapon “the people” have to resist governments that put the interests of the few against the interests of the many.  My Republican friends, the 2nd Amendment and civil militias are not our defense against tyranny. Voting rights are!