What is meant by the term “voter suppression”?

The term “voter suppression” refers to tactics that are used to intentionally reduce the number of people who are able to vote. Voter suppression is a term that is most often heard in reference to elections in the United States, and it is illegal in every state. In Illinois, it is a felony offense. The most common form of voter suppression is the restriction or elimination of people’s right to vote based on their race, gender, or other protected class. This can include gerrymandering, which is redrawing election district lines to make it harder for certain groups of people to vote in an area. Other common forms of voter suppression include intimidating voters; providing inaccurate information about voting requirements; requiring ID that not all citizens possess; not providing enough polling places in certain areas; and purging legitimate voters from the voting rolls. In some cases, people may even be prevented from registering to vote in the first place. Ultimately, voter suppression denies people their right to vote, which is a fundamental right in the United States. Because of this, people should be aware of laws and regulations that protect their right to vote, and they should also be aware of the tactics that can be used to suppress voting.

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What is meant by the term “voter suppression”?

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