**for this component, try to avoid using sources that do not speak directly to your chosen state or that do not take a specific stance on the legislative changes

Written Assignment #1 – State Voting Rights
Since the passage of the 15th Amendment, various states have used their powers under Article I of the Constitution to impair the ability of minority groups to vote. The potential for states to use electoral laws for voter suppression remains controversial within contemporary American politics, as numerous states have recently enacted questionably restrictive TPM regulations. Some examples may include voter ID requirements, restrictions on mail-in ballots, reductions in early voting, etc.
The purpose of this written assignment is to demonstrate your ability to conduct research on state voting laws and to demonstrate your ability to assess the overall impact of state voting regulations.
To complete this paper assignment, you must do the following:
1. Select one state whose legislature has enacted changes to their voting regulations since 2018. Identify and explain the changes to the voting laws in your state (i.e. compare the ‘old’ and ‘new’ ways of voting in your chosen state).
2. Discuss support for and opposition to the legislative changes in the state you selected, as well as any subsequent legal threats or challenges. Some examples might include
a. Statements from elected officials or candidates for offices (e.g. Governors)
b. Statements from non-profit / watchdog organizations
c. Newspaper editorials
**For this component, try to avoid using sources that do not speak directly to your chosen state or that do not take a specific stance on the legislative changes
3. Give your evaluation of these legislative changes. Consider the following questions:
a. Do the changes in your chosen state seem likely to lead to voter suppression?
b. Do the changes in your chosen state seem to have a rational basis?
c. Does your case suggest a need for greater federal oversight (or regulation) of state voting laws?
Submission Guidelines
• Your paper should be approx. 1800 words in length
• Your paper will be electronically submitted via the appropriate D2L dropbox. Submit your paper in .doc,
.rtf, or .pdf file formats.
• All papers will be screened by Turnitin plagiarism detection software
Formatting Guidelines
POLS majors are encouraged to use Chicago style for written assignments. POLS faculty and library staff have compiled a useful guide to research and formatting available at the following link: https://libguides.kennesaw.edu/politicalscience
While I do not specifically grade on formatting, significant problems (e.g. incomplete or missing citations) may result in score reductions.
Research Sources
The non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice provides a useful guide to restrictive and expansive voting laws in states. This would probably be a great first place to start your research.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-2018 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-2019 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-2020 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-december-2021 https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-may-2022
The National Conference of State Legislatures contains a variety of research articles on states and state issues.
https://www.ncsl.org/research.aspx
Ballotpedia has a good state-by-state description of voting laws.
https://ballotpedia.org/Voting_policies_in_the_United_States
Google Scholar is also an excellent place to start a general search; searching here will return primarily news and