Overview
****PLEASE DO NOT USE GENERATIVE AI SOFTWARE. IT IS CHECKED THOROUGHLY****
ASSIGNMENT: Please respond to the classmate’s discussion post below:
Ashleigh Hayes:
The right to vote is central to our democracy. Voting is one of the few avenues we have to influence the government without resorting to riots and protests. After watching the videos, it’s clear that while we have the right to vote, voter suppression has not disappeared; rather, it has evolved into forms that seem innocuous or fair, such as voter ID laws and the SAVE Act. Following the ratification of the 15th Amendment, Black Americans were granted the "right" to vote on a technicality. However, many states implemented barriers that directly affected this newly granted right. Particularly in the South, obstacles were deliberately created to hinder voter participation. Literacy tests, intimidation, violence, and poll taxes are examples of the restrictions that limited voter registration and continued to suppress voting.
It wasn't until 1965, when President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, that these restrictive barriers were abolished—despite the persistence of hate and racism in our country. After the 2020 election, the "Stop the Steal" campaign made sweeping allegations of voter fraud, leading to numerous court cases and unwarranted lawsuits seeking to uncover alleged fraud, particularly involving mail-in ballots. Since then, we have witnessed a significant rise in restrictive voting bills aimed at undermining the right to free and fair elections. For instance, in Georgia, SB 202 was enacted, prohibiting officials from sending out ballot applications and reducing the time voters have to apply for absentee ballots. It also limits the availability of drop boxes and the hours during which they can be accessed. Moreover, this bill criminalizes providing water to individuals waiting in line at polling places.
We are now closely monitoring the progress of the SAVE America Act, which is being pressured in the Senate to pass. This act would have substantial implications for voters by imposing new ID requirements for registration, necessitating proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or Social Security card; a standard ID is no longer sufficient. Additionally, mail-in ballots would need to include this information. Routine updates, such as changes of address, would have to be handled in person, and if you register by mail, you would still be required to appear in person to prove citizenship. All of these measures would continue to burden voters, especially working individuals, minorities, and impoverished communities.
American Postal Workers Union. “Save America Act Threatens Voting Rights for Working Americans.” American Postal Workers Union, 2 Mar. 2026. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
United States Congress. “H.R.7296 — SAVE America Act.” Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 30 Jan. 2026. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026