Voter Suppression

On February 26, 1869, Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment, which gave people the right to vote, where they could not be denied by race. Within this amendment, two sections went further in-depth on how minority votes should count in the states.

Section 1: The right of Citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

When Reconstruction ended in 1877 states across the South implemented laws to restrict voting rights of African Americans.

• Poll Taxes
• Literacy Test
• Grandfather Clause
• Intimidation

Even after decades of ratification of the 15th Amendment, black Americans still found it difficult to vote. The barriers to voting created a revolution where black Americans continued to confidentially protest, march, and get arrested just to work towards voting equality. In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement brought momentum into black communities. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and dozen other civil rights leaders organized and led protests to bring attention to the black vote. These protests turned political opinions, which resulted in the twenty-fourth amendment which prohibit the use of poll taxes.

These protests and changes led to opposition from white Americans. March 7, 1965, brought light to the barriers black voters face. During this protest in Selma, protesters were attacked by state troopers. This event became known as "Bloody Sunday" and swept America and internationally, prompting a voting reform. Congress passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Before the Voting Right Act, only 23% of voting-age African Americans were registered, but by 1969, the number went up to 61%.

The census is supposed to promote opportunities to advance communities and encourage development. Yet, maps are drawn to favor one political group, which creates equity issues regarding resources. The term "Gerrymandering" is used to describe this advantage, which came from Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry. After Governor Gerry took office, the Democratic-Republican party redrew the district maps with the aim of helping him win future elections. A system made to create equality is being manipulated by political parties.

In the 2012 election, the House Democrats earned 1.17 million more votes than Republicans but only received 46 percent of the seats.

The effects of gerrymandering on the redistricting process continue to ignore the representation of the people.

In the state of Louisiana, there are six districts, and only one of them is a majority-black district. Congressional districts in the state have made representation of the state's growing black population less equitable.

In 2022, Black Louisiana residents testified that the state has ignored their needs as a community and the demand for representation. Political scientists and demographic experts explained how the map reduces the influence of black voters.

The Fifth Circuit of Appeals in New Orleans also agreed with the ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court granted Louisiana a temporary halt in redrawing the district lines.

Marginalized communities have come a long way in getting the right to vote in the states. Progress still needs to be made regarding district lines and how they disproportionately affect black communities. The best way to continue progress is by pressuring our legislators to change the district lines and make voting more accessible.