Voter Suppression in U.S. Elections PDF
Preview Voter Suppression in U.S. Elections
Voter Suppression in U.S. Elections series editors Catherine Clinton Jim Downs advisory board Zaheer Ali, Brooklyn Historical Society Stephen Berry, University of Georgia Alexis Coe, Independent Scholar John McMillian, Georgia State University Nell Irvin Painter, Princeton University Clay Risen, New York Times Blain Roberts, Fresno State University Nicholas Syrett, University of Kansas Heather Ann Thompson, University of Michigan Voter Suppression in U.S. Elections edited by Jim Downs Th e University of Georgia Press Athens © 2020 by the University of Georgia Press Athens, Georgia 30602 www.ugapress.org All rights reserved Designed by Erin Kirk Set in Garamond Premier Pro and ITC Franklin Gothic Printed and bound by Sheridan Books The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. Most University of Georgia Press titles are available from popular e-book vendors. Printed in the United States of America 24 23 22 21 20 p 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Downs, Jim, 1973– editor. | University of Georgia. Press Title: Voter suppression in U.S. elections / edited by Jim Downs. Other titles: Voter suppression in United States elections | History in the headlines (Athens, Ga.) Description: Athens : The University of Georgia Press, 2020. | Series: History in the headlines | Includes bibliographical references. Identifiers: lccn 2020006563 | isbn 9780820357737 (Hardback) | isbn 9780820357744 (Paperback) | isbn 9780820357751 (eBook) Subjects: lcsh: Suffrage—United States—History. | Voting— United States—History. | Voter registration—Corrupt practices—United States—History. | Elections—Corrupt practices—United States—History. | Election law—United States. | Race discrimination—Political aspects—United States. | United States—Politics and government. Classification: lcc jk1846 .v65 2020 | ddc 324.60973—dc23 lc record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020006563 For my advisor, Eric Foner, who has, by example, modeled the urgency for historians to respond to the headlines. This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Roundtable 15 Top Ten Articles 91 • Voter Suppression, Then and Now, by David W. Blight 93 • How Prisons Change the Balance of Power in America, by Heather Ann Thompson 97 • Why We Still Need the Voting Rights Act, by John Lewis 106 • Why the Voting Rights Act Is Once Again under Threat, by Ari Berman 109 • The Long and Despicable Roots of Voter Suppression and Similar Tactics, by Frank Palmeri and Ted Wendelin 113 • The Republican Approach to Voter Fraud: Lie, by Carol Anderson 119 • How Voter Suppression Could Swing the Midterms, by Ari Berman 126 • Stacey Abrams, Brian Kemp, and Neo–Jim Crow in Georgia, by Carol Anderson 131 • We Cannot Resign Ourselves to Dismay and Disenfranchisement, by Stacey Abrams 134 • Statement of Stacey Y. Abrams, Founder & Chair, Fair Fight Action on Continuing Challenges to the Voting Rights Act since Shelby County v. Holder before the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, June 25, 2019, by Stacey Abrams 139 Bibliography 149 Permission Credits 159 Acknowledgments My first and most important debt is to Deirdre Cooper Owens, the program director at the Library of Company of Philadelphia lcp, who graciously and generously hosted the roundtable at lcp. Special thanks to the staff at lcp, who cheerfully welcomed us, and to Dr. Michael J. Barsanti, who magnanimously supported this endeavor. His commitment to merging civic engagement with his- torical practice is inspiring, indeed. While the idea of doing a book on voter suppression felt urgent, my decision to move forward with this project, for better or worse, coincided with the gubernatorial election in Georgia. In the im- mediate aftermath of the election, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic contender, had exposed evidence of voter suppression. As I sketched the plans for this volume, my History in the Headlines coeditor, Catherine Clinton, suggested Stacey Abrams as a possi- ble contributor. Although I thought it a brilliant idea, I had no idea how I would get in touch with her, until my good friend John Bantivoglio sent out a flurry of e-mails to friends and colleagues in Atlanta. Stacey’s enthusiasm to participate in the roundtable and her fierce commitment to democracy are why this book exists. Her insightful and incisive comments during the discussion made this book more than I could have ever hoped. I am also deeply indebted to Samantha Slosberg, who answered countless e-mails and han- dled logistics on Stacey’s behalf. ix
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