Voter Suppression: The Perpetuated Threat to U.S. Democracy

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2020-08-28

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en

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This thesis assesses the history and presence of voter suppression in the United States. Using the work of Wang, concerning voter suppression between the Reconstruction Era and the 2012 presidential elections, as well as a categorical system on types of voter suppression of Root and Barclay, the past and current state of voter suppression will be assessed in three chapters. The first concerns a historical overview, addressing the presence and effects of voter suppression from 1776 to 2000. The second chapter covers the start of the 21st century, focusing on voter suppression throughout the Bush and Obama presidencies. The final chapter gives a perspective on voter suppression during the ongoing Trump presidency. This thesis shows that voter suppression has always affected the U.S. election system, albeit in differing forms, explains how and why these forms have changed, and offers recommendations on how voter suppression may be counteracted in the future.

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