What is meant by the term “voter suppression”?

Voter suppression is the intentional efforts of individuals or groups to prevent eligible citizens from voting in an election. It takes many forms, from passing laws that make it more difficult for certain groups of people to vote, to spreading false information about the voting process. In California, some examples of voter suppression are gerrymandering, purging or “cleaning” voter rolls, enacting voter ID laws, manipulating polling place locations, and reducing the number of polling places. Gerrymandering involves redrawing district lines in a way that favors one political party over another. Purging and “cleaning” voter rolls involves removing or denying certain citizens the ability to vote. Voter ID laws require voters to present certain forms of identification, which can be difficult for people who do not have easy access to those forms. Reducing the number of polling places or strategically locating them in certain neighborhoods makes it more difficult for certain groups of people to access the polls and cast their votes. In California, efforts to combat voter suppression have included the promotion of mail-in ballots and the adoption of automatic voter registration. Both of these measures make it easier for eligible citizens to register and cast their ballots. The state also requires election officials to provide language assistance at polling places and has implemented early voting initiatives. California has taken steps to protect the rights of its citizens to vote and to ensure that all qualified citizens can exercise that right.

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What is meant by the term “voter suppression”?

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