What is Voter Suppression?
There are many factors that contribute to low voter turnout in Asian American communities including voter suppression tactics and language barriers, as outlined in the “Why Vote” essay. These obstacles are aimed to discourage voter participation. We will explore voter suppression tactics and what we can do to protect ourselves.
Voter suppression is an effort that prevents an eligible citizen from casting their vote. Voter suppression takes on many forms from passing voting laws, to making it difficult to vote, to physical intimidation at voting polls. The Voting Rights Alliance published a list of suppressive tactics that voters should be aware of. The tactics include, but not limited to:
Misinformation about voting
Reduced polling places
Long lines
Complicated absentee ballot requirements
Vague or confusing deadlines
Outdated voting machines
Purging of voter rolls without notifying voters
Strict voter ID requirements
Physical threats at the polling places (voter intimidation)
Failure to provide language-accessible materials
According to Myrna Pérez, Director of Voting Rights and Elections at the Brennan Center for Justice, these subtle forms of voting suppression shouldn’t discourage you from voting. Voters should be aware and work against voter suppression by learning to recognize possible issues beforehand.
A few ways to ensure your vote counts is to double check your registration, learn your state’s ID requirements, and be aware of misinformation. However, if you plan to vote in person, please consider following:
If you are in line before the closing hour, stay in line!
Do not engage with protesters. Ignore them or ask an election administrator to help you.
Ask for help from poll monitors (nonpartisan spectators who stand outside polling locations to answer questions) if you have any questions.
Call the voter hotline such as the APIAVote and Asian Americans Advancing Justice’s 1-888-API-VOTE (274-8683) hotline if you have additional questions. They can provide assistance before and after voting. Assistance is available in Vietnamese.
Bring your photo ID and any other required forms. Check here or in your state's voting guide for ID requirements.
Read the ballot instruction carefully to ensure your ballot is accepted.
If you are not sure if you did things correctly, contact your officials to confirm.
The purpose of voter suppression efforts is to make it difficult, confusing, and even risky for people to vote. Currently, there are active court cases related to voting. So it is important to learn about voting, make a voting plan, and encourage your family and friends to do the same. Advocate for yourself if you think your vote isn't getting counted fairly.
