Trump's Voting Restrictions Threaten Election Integrity

President Trump has been actively promoting tighter restrictions on mail-in ballots as well as passage of the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote. According to UCLA professor Richard Hasen, these measures could have serious ramifications for election access and integrity.

Hasen, an expert on election law, warns that the president's efforts to restrict voting methods and impose new barriers to participation pose a significant threat to the democratic process. Mail-in and absentee ballots have historically been a safe and secure way for millions of Americans to exercise their right to vote, but Trump has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud associated with these options.

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The SAVE Act, if passed, would mandate that all voters provide proof of citizenship in order to register. This could disenfranchise large numbers of eligible voters, particularly marginalized groups, who may lack easy access to the required documentation. Hasen notes that such restrictions have been struck down by courts in the past due to their discriminatory impact on minority communities.

Beyond the legislative push, Trump has also sought to undermine public confidence in mail-in voting through a sustained misinformation campaign. His claims of rampant fraud, which have been thoroughly debunked, appear aimed at laying the groundwork to challenge election results should he lose in November.

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Voter suppression tactics like those championed by the president have a long and ugly history in the United States, used to systematically deny marginalized groups their democratic rights. Hasen warns that if Trump's efforts are successful, the integrity of the 2020 election and future contests could be irreparably damaged.

In the face of a global pandemic that has made in-person voting riskier, accessible and secure voting options like mail-in ballots are more crucial than ever. Erecting new barriers to the franchise undermines the very foundation of American democracy.

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As Hasen puts it,