Overview
#VotingRights and #RegisterToVote mobilize voter registration, combat voter suppression, and protect access to the ballot. The hashtags surged during election cycles and in response to restrictive voting laws targeting marginalized communities.
Key Issues
Voter suppression tactics:
- Voter ID laws (disproportionately impact Black, Latino, elderly, young, poor voters)
- Purging voter rolls
- Reducing early voting periods/polling locations
- Felony disenfranchisement (6M+ Americans can’t vote due to convictions)
- Gerrymandering (diluting voting power)
Expansion efforts:
- Automatic voter registration
- Same-day registration
- Vote-by-mail expansion
- Lowering voting age to 16 (some localities)
- Restoring felon voting rights
Legislative Battles
Shelby County v. Holder (2013): Supreme Court gutted Voting Rights Act, allowing states to change voting laws without federal approval. Led to wave of restrictive laws.
For the People Act / John Lewis Voting Rights Act: Proposed federal protections repeatedly blocked in Senate.
State-level: Post-2020 election, 30+ states introduced restrictive laws; others expanded access.
Registration Drives
Organizations like Rock the Vote, HeadCount, and When We All Vote (Michelle Obama) used #RegisterToVote during concerts, festivals, and National Voter Registration Day (last Tuesday of September, started 2012).
Impact
Social media voter registration drives registered millions, especially young/first-time voters. However, restrictive laws continue to create barriers.
References
- Brennan Center: Voting restrictions tracker
- ACLU: Voter suppression timeline
- Fair Fight (Stacey Abrams)
- League of Women Voters