Voter suppression tactics have been used often against low-income and minority voters. Whether those tactics are aimed at limiting votes for a certain candidate or at reducing voter fraud is up for debate. Because minority voters are sometimes seen to lean heavily toward one candidate over another, it can mean the difference between winning and losing the election.

In past elections, Republican Party officials have challenged the qualification of voters who they suspected were not eligible to cast ballots in heavily minority and Democratic strongholds. Some civil rights advocates charge that party officials are using these programs to intentionally keep minorities from voting, but Republicans counter that challenging voters is necessary to prevent phony registrations, even though there is scant evidence to support their conclusion.

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Block the Vote

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Book Excerpt: "Stealing Democracy"

Primer: The Voting Rights Act

EXTERNAL LINKS

ACLU: Voting Rights

Project Vote: Election Challengers

Project Vote News on Voter Suppression

Caging Democracy: A 50-Year History of Partisan Challenges to Minority Voters