Understanding Controversial Election Laws in the US

Controversial election laws in the United States are primarily governed by state governments.

Some of these laws include postal voting, gerrymandering, and photo identification laws.

The U.S. constitution provides basic procedures for federal elections, but most of the administration is left to the states.

🗳️ The constitution guarantees the right to vote cannot be denied or bridged based on gender or race, but states have the authority to determine other qualifications for voting.

📜 Controversial election laws often involve questions of equal protection under the 14th Amendment, specifically if a state's election law is discriminatory.

🔎 Some of the controversial election laws in the states include gerrymandering, identification requirements, postal voting, ballot collection, and ballot design.

⚖️ Controversial election laws range from strict photo ID requirements to non-strict non-photo ID options.

🔍 Proponents claim that ID requirements promote transparent elections, while critics argue they disenfranchise minority voters.

🚫 Detractors also fear selective enforcement based on race by local officials.

🗳️ Strict photo ID laws have inconsistent effects on voter turnout.

📮 Voting by mail increases overall turnout but does not impact party vote share.

💼🗳️ Postal voting may have partisan effects, potentially benefiting both parties.

🗳️ Voter fraud in elections is more likely to impact the outcome in bigger fraud cases, but smaller fraud cases are less likely to be detected.

✉️ Prior to the pandemic, five states allowed voting by mail, while others had the option for postal voting. Arizona has both voting by mail and in-person voting with longer counting times for mail votes.

📥 Arizona has a controversial law that bans the collection and submission of ballots by anyone other than the voter, their relatives, or their caretakers.

🗳️ Controversial election laws allow gathering and submission of postal ballots, which has faced criticism for disenfranchising minority and native communities.

⚖️ A federal judge ruled the law invalid, but the U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case and will determine its fate.

📝 The design of the ballot used in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2000 caused confusion and led to a significant number of votes for Pat Buchanan instead of Al Gore.

✅ About 430,000 absentee ballots were discarded in 2018 due to unsigned envelopes.

📝 Minnesota changed their ballot envelope design to emphasize the need for a signature.

🗳️ States have the primary responsibility for administering elections.