CAN VOTING TRULY CAPTURE THE SENTIMENT OF AMERICANS?

AJ EARL

In the race to the 2020 elections, much true. Anyone who makes your ability to vote hay has been made over the demographics of more difficult, whether by the courts or voters. White Americans made up the bulk through intimidation, is trying to justify and of President Donald Trump’s 2016 support, secure their idea of who deserves to vote. pushing him toward a win in several rust belt No, voting does not capture the sentiment states, while BIPOC voters mostly broke for of Americans. Clinton. To say nothing of voter disenfran- When a country must pass laws to bar discrimichisement, can voting really reflect the demo- nation at the polls but then turns around and, via graphics of the country and their sentiments? the courts, curtails these laws, the idea of who is

Ever since the United States Supreme Court served by voting becomes crystal clear. Make no disastrous Shelby v. Holder ruling in 2013, hold- mistake, the kind of interference and restricing that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was invalid tions put in place by the GOP are meant to do in several areas, voting lines have gotten longer little more than ensure people of means, and disenfranchisement bolder. If Black voters white people especially, can vote without in the southern U.S. can’t access the polls reli- having to worry about their vote beably and in a reasonable time, then it’s impos- ing weighed against that of a Black sible to say they are rightly represented in our voter. Imagine if you were Black current electoral system. If Indigenous voters and disabled and needed eiin South Dakota must sue for ballot drop boxes, ther bussing to the polls or then how is this system anything but restrictive? ballot pickup, and these

The Trump administration has been work- were blocked. Do ing to cement this new electoral regime, pack- you even have a ing courts with its picks to ensure favorable vote at that electoral rulings while at the same time it point? attacks mail-in voting, demanding people vote in person. This kind of overt, systemic discrimination is a threat to democracy, but it is the goal of opponents of enfranchisement and universal suffrage.

Without a fair, open electoral process, the country is left with a political direction aimed squarely at the status quo. Voters Solutions should not be told to these ineqtheir vote mat- uities exist in large ters if that numbers, many of is not them relatively easy in principle, but blocked by a stubborn Congress and state legislatures. Moving Election Day, increasing the length of time to vote, mail-in ballots, the list goes on. With even a modest effort, the country could reduce disenfranchisement. The clear benefit of this kind of expansion of the right to vote, a better reflection of the sentiments of voters, however, is simply too inclusive and may cause the balance of voter preference to shift dramatically. Election All things considered, the complicated naDay, too, pro- ture of voting in the U.S. at present is to blame vides a massive bar- for our current state of affairs: a pandemic, rier, blocking the working unchecked racism, a failing economy that only class from making it out to serves to enrich the wealthy. It would be easy SHANNON STEED the polls before they close. On a to urge people to try hard to overcome the barTuesday, Election Day limits the abil- riers as they exist, but these barriers should be ity for many to vote. If you work, asking destroyed. That there are not more election off to vote can raise suspicions, make employ- access cases in high courts right now suggests ers cagey about letting one person go lest they a country that has accepted this dynamic. It inspire others and just generally raise inter- is the only real reflection of national sentiest and suspicion into your political positions. ment right now—and that should not be.