Laws Claimed to Protect Voting Are Making It Harder to Cast a Ballot

The myth of widespread election fraud has been repeatedly debunked by numerous studies and experts. Claims that undocumented immigrants are voting, or that voter impersonation is occurring on a significant scale, are simply not supported by the data. Studies show that fraud, especially voter impersonation, is almost non-existent. For example, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has tracked voter fraud cases for decades, reported only a few dozen isolated cases out of billions of ballots cast. These instances were mostly clerical errors or minor irregularities, not the coordinated fraud some claim.

Despite the lack of evidence, voter suppression laws have been passed under the guise of preventing fraud, making it harder for many Americans—especially minorities and low-income voters—to vote. In North Carolina, a new voter ID law has created significant barriers. While residents must obtain a state-issued ID to vote, the state’s DMV is experiencing severe staff shortages, making it nearly impossible for people to get appointments. In fact, many have reported being turned away as walk-ins due to these limitations. This bottleneck disproportionately impacts low-income individuals, especially those that are young and have yet to obtain a driver’s license.

States like Georgia have implemented voter roll purges that remove people from the voter registration list under the pretext of “routine maintenance.” Georgia’s aggressive purging practices, for instance, have led to the removal of hundreds of thousands of voters, many of whom were legitimate voters who had simply changed addresses or hadn’t voted in recent elections. These purges disproportionately affect minority voters, who are often the hardest hit by such practices.

Meanwhile, accusations of undocumented immigrants voting in U.S. elections have also been proven false. Multiple studies, including those conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, have shown that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. A study covering over 1 billion votes cast between 2000 and 2014 found just 56 instances of noncitizen voting. These numbers highlight that the real issue is not widespread voter fraud but voter suppression efforts disguised as fraud prevention.

As voters face increasing obstacles to casting their ballots, it’s essential to remain vigilant. Voters are encouraged to check their registration status regularly—especially in states where voter roll purges are common. Routine purges often target voters who have moved, changed their names, or haven’t voted in recent elections, leading to disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.

Voter suppression is a real and pressing issue that affects the integrity of democracy far more than the non-existent fraud claims used to justify it. It’s critical for voters to stay informed, check their registration status frequently before deadlines, and be prepared to navigate any obstacles in their path to casting a ballot.