Voting Laws: New Restrictions and Expansions Impacting Black Voters

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Wake County election worker Ren Pridgeon waits for voters during early voting at the John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C. Republicans in North Carolina pushed through extensive reforms to state voting laws last year, becoming the latest state where Republican lawmakers have targeted voting rights since the 2020 election. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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With the 2024 general election approaching, a wave of new voting laws is shaping the electoral landscape, continuing the trend from recent years. From January to May, six states, including Alabama and Idaho, passed restrictive laws that could significantly impact this year’s elections. 

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, these new laws criminalize certain forms of assistance with absentee voting, making it harder for many, particularly Black voters, elderly voters, and those with disabilities, to cast their ballots. In Alabama, for example, it’s now a crime for anyone other than the voter to submit a mail ballot application, and providing assistance can result in severe penalties.

Emerging technology issues, such as the use of deep fakes and AI, have also prompted new laws to combat disinformation. As states pile on new restrictions, it’s crucial, however, for voters to stay informed and prepared.


Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.

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