The War On Voting: Not Just About Fraud

by Stuart Shapiro

Usually when I discuss GOP attempts to suppress voters, the response is voter fraud voter fraud voter fraud!!  Well then how to explain these efforts in the swing state of Ohio?

The GOP’s argument goes even further than pitching ballots tainted by worker error, though. In legislation proposed last year (and withdrawn after it was poised to be rejected by a voter referendum), another provision would bar poll workers from helping voters find the correct precinct if they showed up at the wrong place. That’s right. A proposed GOP reform would ensure that poll workers have no obligation to tell you anything at all if you ask them a question pertaining to precisely the thing they are meant to do—facilitate voting.

As frequent readers know, I don’t buy the voter fraud argument at all.  Measures like this one that aren’t even aimed at fraud reveal the real purpose of the whole effort.  Suppress turnout because the fewer people vote, the better the chance for Republicans.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.