Voter suppression exposes flaws in US democracy

New rules against minority voters may favour Republicans in Nov 6 midterms, say experts

Michelle Chasing Hawk and Ira Hanson canvass voters in Porcupine, North Dakota, ahead of the 2018 midterm elections on the Standing Rock Reservation, US, on Oct 26, 2018.
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Hundreds of Native Americans without a postal address in North Dakota will not be able to vote in the Nov 6 midterm elections after a judge on Thursday upheld a new rule requiring voters to show identification bearing their street addresses.

The law is part of a larger pattern of recent administrative changes passed ostensibly as bulwarks against voter fraud but which disproportionately affect minority voters.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 03, 2018, with the headline Voter suppression exposes flaws in US democracy. Subscribe