Voter Disenfranchisement in Indiana: A Tale of Suppression and Resistance

Alessia Modjarrad's scathing report exposes the long history of voter disenfranchisement in Indiana, with over 250 bills filed across 43 states with restrictive voter language as of February 19, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The Hoosier state has implemented strict photo ID policies, early voter registration deadlines, and purged 28.7% of its voters between 2016 and 2018 with "Crosscheck", a flawed software. This trend of voter disenfranchisement continued through the 2020 general election, with restricted absentee ballot access leading to long lines, particularly in Indianapolis, a predominantly Democratic area with diverse Black and Brown communities.

Key Takeaways:

• Indiana has a long history of implementing restrictive voting laws, including strict photo ID policies and early voter registration deadlines, which disproportionately affect communities of color.
• The state has purged 28.7% of its voters between 2016 and 2018 using "Crosscheck", a flawed software that utilizes the illegal practice of purging voters after two inactive cycles without notice.
• In the 2020 general election, Indiana was one of four states to require an approved reason to vote by mail, making it difficult for voters to access absentee ballots.
• Long lines were a common occurrence in Indianapolis, particularly in areas with diverse Black and Brown communities.
• Expanding early voting sites is a proposed solution, but it requires the unanimous consent of the bipartisan county election board, which can be blocked by Republicans.
• State Sen. Fady Qaddoura, Indiana's first Muslim lawmaker, has spoken out against the negative impact of the Indiana Republican Party on voting rights.
• Expanding voter registration, early voting, and absentee voting are policy proposals that have been successfully implemented in other states to increase voter access.
• The Republican supermajority at the Statehouse and structural barriers make it difficult to actualize real change in voter access.

Statistics:

• Over 250 bills with restrictive voter language have been filed across 43 states as of February 19, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
• Indiana has purged 28.7% of its voters between 2016 and 2018 using "Crosscheck", a flawed software.
• In the 2020 general election, Indiana was one of four states to require an approved reason to vote by mail.
• Long lines were a common occurrence in Indianapolis, with waits ranging from one to two and a half hours in some areas.

Sources:

• Brennan Center for Justice (February 19, 2023)
• Alessia Modjarrad (she/her) is a junior studying economic consulting and law and public policy, and the president of the College Democrats of Indiana.