The Indirect Effect of Voter Suppression Strategies on Criminal Justice Consequences for Voters of Color

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

There is scant research on the effects of voter suppression strategies on criminal justice policies that adversely harm communities of color. Capital punishment, and felon disenfranchisement are some of the policies that communities of color would not support. In 2013, The United States Supreme Court overruled the core tenets of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). The VRA was enacted to assure fairness in voting by requiring oversight in jurisdictions with histories of voter suppression that failed to meet voting rate thresholds for African Americans. The Court ruled the 1965 formula that triggered oversight was outdated, noting progress had been made in African American voting and elections to political offices. We contend that the removal of the VRA guard rails, per Blalock’s power threat theory, has increased voter suppression strategies where voters of color outnumber white voters. Moreover, we hypothesize certain political and geographic nuances to voter suppression. Deep south jurisdictions AND where republicans are politically empowered will more likely employ voter suppression strategies. However, we argue there are subregional differences between border and deep south states that distinguish voter suppression strategies. These presentations explore voter suppression strategies after the Court found parts of Shelby v. Holder unconstitutional.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 52. Challenging Criminal Justice Policies

Individual Presentations

• The Impact of Black Population Increases on Voter Suppression in Southern States Controlling for Subregional Differences - Frank S. Pezzella, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Brian Lawton, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Noreen Ali, CUNY Graduate Center / John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• The Intersection of Suppressive Voter and Adverse Criminal Justice Practices - Noreen Ali, CUNY Graduate Center / John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Frank S. Pezzella, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Brian Lawton, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

• The Geography of Voter Suppression - Brian Lawton, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Frank S. Pezzella, John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Noreen Ali, CUNY Graduate Center / John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Discussant

• Evan Mandery, John Jay College of Criminal Justice