Hi John

We’ve heard versions of this idea for years – voter suppression tactics like voter ID and other restrictive voting laws don’t actually have a big-enough impact on voter turnout or the outcome of elections to be a concern. 

This argument is making the rounds again, and we think these commentators are missing a few critical points. We wanted to share our thoughts with you.

One, everyone agrees that voter suppression laws have some measurable effect – even if commentators call it a “small” one. One recent study, for example, estimated a 0.12% drop in overall turnout due to voter ID laws – which sounds small, but in a state like Texas with 8.1 million votes cast in 2022, is about 9,700 votes. That’s a lot of voters!

Two, that kind of impact actually can decide the outcome of elections! The 2022 Arizona Attorney General’s race was decided by just 280 votes (out of 2.5 million votes cast). Control of the Pennsylvania House last year was decided by just 58 votes (HD 151). In 2017, control of the Virginia House came down to a literal coin toss. 

Three, we care about more than just the outcome of elections! It’s important that we reaffirm the sacred and fundamental right to vote, for everyone. If thousands of lawful voters are prevented from voting because of unnecessary hurdles, then we’re not living up to our democratic values. No voter should be disenfranchised, period.

Four, these voter suppression laws are designed to disproportionately impact voters of color, and that’s unacceptable. As just two examples, see this analysis and this analysis from the Brennan Center. Simply put, we can’t tolerate laws that have a clear racial impact on voting – regardless of electoral outcomes. 

And finally, if the impact is “small,” that’s because groups like Power the Vote are working overtime to mitigate the impacts of these voter suppression bills. We haven’t seen any study that takes into account the partisan and non-partisan voter protection organizations helping to ensure that voters can overcome barriers to voting. Without this work, which helps millions of voters nationwide, we can guarantee the impacts would be so much worse. 

The bottom line is, we can’t afford to be complacent. Republicans fight like every vote matters, because every vote does. It’s up to us to fight back.

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Help us support voter protection work this fall! 

We’re fundraising to support law fellows who will work in states with key races this fall – including in Kentucky, where Democratic Governor Andy Beshear is fighting for a second term and where polling shows the race is a dead heat!

These law fellows will not only help to fight for ballot access for voters – they’ll also learn the ropes and, we hope, help build the pipeline of experienced voter protection staff who can work on the 2024 campaigns next year.

* Will you give today to support law fellows in Kentucky this fall? *

In Other News…

Texas has a new voter protection director!  

Meet Jenna Royal, who will lead the Democratic Party’s voter protection work in Texas. We’re thrilled to partner with Jenna as she steps into this important role and asked her to share a few words:

“Since the beginning of my life in politics, I've seen how important protecting the voters of Texas is to not just winning elections but also making sure that the true voice of Texans is represented at all levels of government. From my time with the Beto for Senate campaign, to my days as the Texas Political Director for Moms Demand Action, to my amazing experience at Galvanize USA, I've seen over and over the effect that empowering voters can have. I’m so grateful for the support of Power the Vote, which allows me and the Voter Protection team to ensure that every Texas Democrat can safely and confidently cast their vote!”

Your support of Power the Vote funds Jenna’s work to fight for Texas voters! Thanks for making this work possible!

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Democracy lives to see another day!  Have you heard? Last month, the Supreme Court rejected the Independent State Legislature Theory – which would have prevented state courts from reviewing voting laws and applying state constitutional protections. This is a big win for democracy and helps (in some states) to stem the tide of unconstitutional anti-voter laws coming out of Republican-controlled state legislatures. Read more here. 

GOP leaders embrace early voting:  Trump’s election subversion attacks have led to major shifts in Republican voting behavior, as Republican voters pivot toward election day voting and away from early voting and vote-by-mail. Those chickens have come home to roost – and almost certainly cost Republicans election wins, including in Arizona, where voting machine issues in Maricopa County on election day led some Republicans to simply not vote. Now, Republican leaders are trying to walk back their scaremongering and encourage Republicans to vote early and vote by mail. We’ll see, but one thing is for certain: as Republicans mobilize, the work we fund to ensure voting access for Democratic voters is as important as ever. Read more here.

On the theme of debunking voting myths… Check out this post from the Civics Center on youth voter registration! 

The fight for democracy continues! Thanks for everything you’re doing to join in this fight. 

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram!

Saira and Kim

We Fund Voter Protection

In 2020, we ran the Democratic Party’s Voter Protection Program in Georgia, when the state flipped blue for the first time in nearly 30 years.

We pioneered a new model of voter protection, built on sustained investments and long-lasting relationships.

Now, we’re building on that success and adapting the Georgia model to fight voter suppression in other battleground states.

But we can only do it with your support. Join us – and join the fight for voter protection!