Voter Suppression Measures Passed Since 2011
Voting is a fundamental right, not a privilege. But right now across America, the right to cast a ballot is under attack. For the past century, voting rights advocates have fought, sometimes risking their lives, for each expansion of the franchise.
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Alabama
Alabama
Alabama passed legislation (HB 56 and HB 19 respectively) to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of Alabama's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Don't let Alabama turn back the clock on the fundamental right to vote -- tell the Department of Justice to object to Alabama's discriminatory voter ID and proof of citizenship laws.
Florida
Florida
Florida passed broad voter suppression legislation (HB 1355) that restricts voter registration, early voting and more.
Because of Florida's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice. The ACLU is asking the federal government to object to this discriminatory new law (more).
Don't let Florida turn back the clock on the fundamental right to vote -- tell the Department of Justice to object to Florida's discriminatory voter suppression law.
Also in 2011, Florida's governor and his cabinet -- acting as the Board of Executive Clemency -- adopted a policy change that makes it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights. This voting ban affects an estimated one million Floridians.
Read stories of individuals impacted by new regressive voting restrictions in the state.
New Florida election law stirs up controversy
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia passed legislation (HB 92) to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa's governor issued an executive order (Executive Order 70) making it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Kansas
Kansas
Kansas passed legislation (HB 2067) to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Maine
Maine
Though the Maine legislature passed a bill (LD 1376) to eliminate Election Day registration,* the legislation was reversed by a “people's veto” that appeared on the November 2011 ballot and reinstated Election Day registration. (More »)
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »*The ACLU supports Election Day registration schemes that do not include photo or non-photo ID requirements.
Michigan
Michigan
Legislation is pending.
SB 751 and HB 5061 would require photo ID to be presented when voting absentee in person.
SB 754 would severely restrict voter registration drives.
SB 803 would require voters to re-affirm their citizenship when voting.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Minnesota
Minnesota
Legislation is pending. SF 1577 and HF 2738 would amend the state Constitution to require photo ID to vote.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Missouri
Missouri
HJR 89 would place on this November's ballot a constitutional amendment to permit voter ID.
An initiative (SJR2) that would remove key voting protections from the state constitution and open the door to a voter ID law is slated to appear on the November 2012 ballot, though the validity of the ballot initiative is being challenged by the ACLU. (More »)
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi approved a ballot measure (Initiative 27) to amend the state constitution to require a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of Mississippi's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina amended its procedure for verifying the citizenship of registered voters. Under the new policy, people who obtained driver's licenses as non-citizens – even if they became citizens subsequently – will be purged from the voter rolls unless they take extra measures to prove their citizenship.
Because of North Carolina's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Ohio
Ohio
Though the broad suppression legislation that passed last year (HB 194) was supposed to be on this November 2012 ballot for a potential “people's veto,” legislators are close to repealing the underlying law and passing new suppression measures instead. This is a way for legislators to avoid giving the people of Ohio a chance to vote against voter suppression laws.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Legislation (HB 934) to require photo ID to vote was signed by Governor Corbett.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Rhode Island passed legislation (S 400A) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina passed legislation (H 3003) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of South Carolina's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. On December 23, 2011, the Department of Justice denied pre-clearance of this attempt to suppress the vote.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
South Dakota
South Dakota
The South Dakota legislature passed a bill that strips people on probation of their right to vote.
Because of South Dakota's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee passed legislation (SB 16) to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The state also passed legislation (SB 352 and SB 923 respectively) to require proof of citizenship from certain registered voters and to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »Read stories of individuals impacted by new regressive voting restrictions in the state.
Nashville homeless man says he got voter ID runaround/
Murfreesboro couple testify in D.C. about voter ID experience
91-year-old Tennessee woman can't get voter ID because of long line
96-year-old Chattanooga resident denied voting ID
Texas
Texas
Texas passed legislation (SB 14) requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The state also passed legislation (HB 1570 and HB 2194) that restricts voter registration drives.
Because of Texas' troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. On March 12, 2012, the Department of Justice denied preclearance of SB 14.
Thank the Department of Justice for protecting the fundamental right to vote.
Virginia
Virginia
Legislation is pending.
HB 9 and SB 1 will require voters without ID to vote using a provisional ballot, which may or may not be counted. These have passed both chambers and now are on Governor McDonnell's desk.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin passed legislation (AB7) to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Read stories of individuals impacted by new regressive voting restrictions in the state.
Voter ID becomes law of unintended consequences
WI citizen jumps through DMV hoops to get photo ID in order to cast legal vote
Need a free photo ID to vote? Be prepared to wait
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia passed legislation (SB 581) to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
But the voting restrictions being passed in states across the country today turn back the clock on the hard won gains Americans have made to ensure equal access to the ballot box.
In 2011, states across the country passed measures to make it harder for Americans – particularly African-Americans, the elderly, students and people with disabilities – to exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot. These measures include requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register, cutting back on early voting, eliminating Election Day registration, new restrictions on voter registration drives, and additional barriers to voting for people with criminal convictions.
The map above outlines which states passed voter suppression measures since January 1, 2011 and where the right to vote remains under siege today. As we go into 2012, we will no doubt see new voter suppression measures proposed across the country. This map will track state legislative and other battles over the fundamental right to vote.
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