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The 2020 election cycle was always going to come down to voter suppression vs. voter turnout. That became more true during the pandemic and truer still after claims of a rigged process. Plan A was to keep certain people from voting; Plan B is to try to delegitimize those voters.
Voter suppression can depress turnout but it can also work to galvanize voters — which is what happened with much of the Black electorate this year. This combined with the legacy of Congressman John Lewis has been a powerful message.
Telling voters they don’t matter is a message that has usually been directed at voters of color. This year, the idea that white GOP voters’ ballots may not count could impact their willingness to turn out — a phenomenon far less common in our country.
A storyline journalists must continue to watch in 2021 and beyond: What happens next with voting rights? How will both parties respond to the clear need to address election disparities and expanded access to the ballot for all Americans at the local, state and federal level?
