The Effect of the Shelby vs. Holder Decision on Voter Suppression - CANCELLED

• In Event: Racial Disparities in Criminal Punishment

Abstract

Following the Shelby decision to remove oversight from states and certain counties with low minority voting rates, various forms of voter suppression legislation have been enacted around the country. Moreover, after the 2020 presidential election, numerous voter suppression legislation has been promulgated by states that also happen to have large contingents of voters of color. These legislative initiatives include mandatory voter identification, and registration, strict felon disenfranchisement eligibility, and closing of voting locations. Focusing on Critical Race Theory and the Minority Threat Hypothesis, we hypothesize that counties with previous federal oversight are more likely to enact suppressive voter legislation. We further hypothesize that counties with higher changes in black population are more likely to enact suppressive voter bills. We further expect to see the adverse effect voter suppression and minority threat have on criminal justice outcomes. We use data from the Voter Rights Lab and Census Bureau to conduct negative binomial regression analyses to determine the relationship between voter suppression legislation and our various predictors. The results of this study have tremendous implications for the role the Shelby decision may have played in the high volume of voter suppression legislation, and through this the disenfranchisement of voters of color.

Authors

• Noreen Ali, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Brian Lawton, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• Frank Pezzella, John Jay College of Criminal Justice / CUNY Graduate Center