To: President Donald Trump, The New Jersey State House, The New Jersey State Senate, Governor Phil Murphy, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
New Voting Laws
A shift that could change the electoral landscape is underway – the tightening of restrictions on who can
vote and how Americans can vote. Going into the 2012 elections, there will be millions of Americans who
will find that since 2008, there are new barriers that could prevent them from voting.These new restrictions fall most heavily on young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as on voters with disabilities. This wave of changes may sharply tilt the political terrain for the 2012 election. Already
19 new laws and two new executive actions are in place. At least 42 bills are still pending, and at least 68
more were introduced but failed. Already, it is clear that:
SummaryThese new laws could make it significantly harder for more than five million eligible voters to
cast ballots in 2012.
• The states that have already cut back on voting rights will provide 171 electoral votes in
2012 – 63 percent of the 270 needed to win the presidency.
• Of the 12 likely battleground states, as assessed by an August Los Angeles Times analysis of
Gallup polling, five have already cut back on voting rights (and may pass additional restrictive
legislation), and two more are currently considering new restrictions.
vote and how Americans can vote. Going into the 2012 elections, there will be millions of Americans who
will find that since 2008, there are new barriers that could prevent them from voting.These new restrictions fall most heavily on young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as on voters with disabilities. This wave of changes may sharply tilt the political terrain for the 2012 election. Already
19 new laws and two new executive actions are in place. At least 42 bills are still pending, and at least 68
more were introduced but failed. Already, it is clear that:
SummaryThese new laws could make it significantly harder for more than five million eligible voters to
cast ballots in 2012.
• The states that have already cut back on voting rights will provide 171 electoral votes in
2012 – 63 percent of the 270 needed to win the presidency.
• Of the 12 likely battleground states, as assessed by an August Los Angeles Times analysis of
Gallup polling, five have already cut back on voting rights (and may pass additional restrictive
legislation), and two more are currently considering new restrictions.
Why is this important?
A shift that could change the electoral landscape is underway – the tightening of restrictions on who can
vote and how Americans can vote.
vote and how Americans can vote.