Since 2011, politicians have spearheaded efforts to cut early voting for partisan gain. Check out ACLU's explainer about why cutting early voting is voter suppression.

Since 2011, politicians have spearheaded efforts to cut early voting for partisan gain. Check out ACLU's explainer about why cutting early voting is voter suppression.

Cutting early voting is voter suppression

Americans love the convenience of early voting. 32% of U.S. voters voted early in 2012.

In 33 states and D.C. voters can cast their ballots before Election Day. This benefits working people, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and all of us.

But since 2011, some states have cut back early voting. Politicians are spearheading these efforts for partisan gain.

In Florida in 2012, early voting cut from 14 to 8 days.

In North Carolina in 2013, early voting cut from 17 to 10 days.

In Wisconsin in 2014, nights and weekend early voting was eliminated.

In Ohio in 2014, six days, evenings, Sundays and the day before Election Day.

Cuts to early voting lead to longer lines & fewer voters.

229,947 people might have left in frustration over long lines in North Carolina’s early voting cuts had been in effect in 2012.

Early voting by race

70% of black voters in North Carolina voted early in 2008 and 2012.

In 2012, black voters in Ohio voted early at more than 2x the rate of white voters.

Wait…why are politicians cutting early voting again?

To learn more, go to aclu.org/voting-rights.

Sources:

i. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-p-mcdonald/a-modest-early-voting-r...

ii. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2012/09/24/florida-...

iii. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/why-early-voting-cuts-will-hit-blacks-hardest

iv. http://www.thenation.com/blog/179626/aclu-lawsuit-ohio-early-voting-cuts...

v. https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/lwv_expert_report_-_t__a...

vi. https://www.aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/long-and-short-voting-lines-nort...

vii. https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/ohio_complaint.pdf