VOTER SUPPRESSION THE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

For a developed democracy as advanced as the US, America has a longstanding history of voter suppression. While legally all citizens over the age of 18 possess the constitutionally-protected right to vote, in practice there are many obstacles and roadblocks that make the goal of universal suffrage out of reach for many.

Speaking of defund the police: In all but two states, the right to vote is taken away from incarcerated individuals and is exceedingly difficult to regain after being released.

Like mass incarceration, many voter suppression issues have their own history of being weaponized against BIPOC communities and skewing voter participation. The justice system disproportionately targets BIPOC communities with barriers to voting out oppressive policymakers + understanding these methods is the first step towards dismantling them.

In this Digital Download, we will walk through some key ways voter suppression occurs + how we can advocate for change. A BRIEF HISTORY.

Voter Suppression Targets BIPOC Communities From reducing the number of polling locations in BIPOC neighborhoods, to making election day on a Tuesday (rather than making it a federal paid holiday), voter suppression disproportionately harms BIPOC and low income communities - allowing racist institutions and systems to go unchecked.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

Unlearning The Fight for Women's Rights to Vote 100 years ago, white women got the right to vote. But the fight for voting rights didn’t end with Susan B Anthony - discover other noteworthy women who fought for the right to vote in this article.

READ THIS ARTICLE VOTER SUPPRESSION TODAY.

1. AMPLIFYING VOTER FRAUD WITH NO DATA

Voter fraud has been a hot topic, but it's difficult to justify a heated debate when the data is so clear cut. Voter fraud occurrences are miniscule + are hardly a threat to elections. READ THIS ARTICLE 2.VOTER PURGING POLICIES

Voter purging occurs for many reasons, but excessive purging can result in the removal of registrants ready to vote only to find they are no longer registered when they get to the polls. READ THIS ARTICLE

3.POLLING ACCESSIBILITY

"One study, from the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, found that black and Latino voters in Florida were more than two times as likely to have their mail-in ballots rejected..." READ THIS ARTICLE

4.GERRYMANDERING WEAKENS BIPOC VOTES

This 2019 Vox video explains how strategic redrawing of election maps can be used to weaken democratic voting areas. The main case study here? North Carolina. WATCH THIS VIDEO

5. VOTER ID LAWS CREATE BARRIERS Seemingly ‘innocent’ ID laws are just another obstacle to voting for many. We recommend watching this whole clip, but for a quick recap on voter ID laws, skip to 06:20. WATCH THIS VIDEO HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW.

This is simply a starting point. We hope these resources motivate you to continually cultivate a deeper understanding of the complex issues under-amplified communities face so you can be a better advocate for all people + the planet.

1. CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION Checking your registration is the first step to ensure you are ready to take action. Be sure to encourage friends + family members to check their registration as well. Don't forget to check again leading up to the election in case your name is purged. USE THIS RESOURCE

2.MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR EARLY VOTING

Remember that dates could change due to COVID-19, so mark your calendar and double check the dates before you head in for early voting. USE THIS RESOURCE

3.DROP BALLOTS OFF IRL Right now, the USPS is still struggling with delayed mail, reduced support, and fewer sorting machines. If you're near an election office and you have the time, drop off your absentee ballot IRL to eliminate risks. USE THIS RESOURCE

4.ADVOCATE FOR AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION

Do other developed countries have this? Yes. Can America do this as well? Yes - in fact, 19 states + the District of Columbia already have. But even so, it's still an imperfect solve, as this only applies to those with state-issued IDs. READ THIS ARTICLE TAKE THE PLEDGE.

We’re excited to bring together resources and grow the IE platform to serve everyone in our community. We hope you’ll continue to join us as we dive into more intersectional environmental topics! In the meantime, we hope you’ll take the pledge to put your new knowledge to work. Bring these learnings into your own life—by speaking up, being an ally, or by following and promoting the incredible work of intersectional activists. Cheers to your support and to the creation of a more inclusive planet!