FACT BRIEF

Are state legislatures introducing a wave of laws that make it more difficult to vote?

Thursday, February 4, 2021

By Mia Dillon

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YES

Following the 2020 election, which saw the highest level of voter turnout in 120 years, state legislatures are introducing a wave of laws to make it more difficult to vote.

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 28 state legislatures have introduced 106 restrictive voting bills since the election. Republicans control 19 out of 28. Last January, only 35 such bills had been filed in 6 states.

The bills' proposals include restricting absentee ballot access, limiting early voting and toughening voter ID laws. Republican support for such measures is based on an assumption that lower turnout is typically to their advantage. In discussing proposed changes to Georgia's voting laws, a Republican election official in Gwinnett County stated, “They don’t have to change all of them, but they’ve got to change the major parts of them so that we at least have a shot at winning."

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Nonprofit Quarterly: Republican-led state legislatures rush to restrict voting rights

Brennan Center for Justice: Voting laws roundup 2021

National Conference of State Legislatures: State elections 2020

Gwinnett Daily Post: Elections board's new chair wants limits on no-excuse absentee voting, voter roll review

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