US Midterms 2022: What are the new voting laws, and who are the most affected?

A number of voting restrictions have been introduced across the different states in the United States, ever since the presidential election in 2020.

The majority of the changes have been brought into place in the Republican-run states after the respective governments thought it necessary to put in place to prevent fraud at the polls. However, the changes have been challenged by the Democrats, who have claimed that they make it harder for voters to cast their ballots, disenfranchising poorer, marginalized communities.

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Since the 2020 presidential election took place in the midst of a pandemic, voting rules were temporarily relaxed to make it easier and safer for people to vote. The changes were later made permanent by many states after it was seen that there were record turnout levels when it comes to the voters. 

However, this also led former President Donald Trump to falsely claim that there was widespread voter fraud which he attributed to his ultimate defeat and President Joe Biden’s victory.

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The new changes in voting laws

Following such claims and controversies, lawmakers have proposed several voting restriction bills and even managed to have dozens passed into law. These include:

1. Limiting mail-in voting
2. Elaborate voter ID requirements
3. Reducing the number of voting locations
4. Limiting voting times
5. Removing inactive voters from voter rolls
6. Increasing voter supervision

The trend of introducing voting restrictions that began in 2021 across the US has continued this year in the build-up to the midterm elections on 8 November.

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“Over the past two years, we have seen a divide develop and deepen across the country. While many states have enacted laws to expand ballot access, others have made it more difficult to vote,” said Liz Avore, a voting policy expert.

Republican-controlled states like Texas, Georgia, Iowa, and Florida, have been at the forefront when it comes to introducing these restrictions. 

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For example, there is a law in Texas where election officials can face up to two years in prison for sending mail-in ballots to people who have not specifically requested them. “Mail voting epitomizes the national divide,” Avore said. “Nevada, for example, recently started sending mail ballots to all voters. Meanwhile, Florida, Georgia, and Texas all erected new ID requirements that have made it more difficult for voters to vote by mail.”

Who is affected the most?

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, many of the restrictive laws make it harder for people with disabilities and non-English-speaking populations to vote. 

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Poorer communities have also been disproportionately affected by ID restrictions. 

“A lot of poor people don’t have a driver’s license because they don’t have a car,” Elaine Kamarck, who specializes in voting rights at US research group Brookings, said. “Every restriction you place on people’s ability to vote hits poor people harder and more directly because rich people have more time and access to maneuver through a bureaucracy.”