Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook

Released in 2023, "Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook" is an unsettling documentary that chronicles the tactics and strategies employed by the Republican Party to restrict access to voting in the United States. Through a compelling narrative, the film sheds light on the complex web of voter suppression techniques used to disenfranchise millions of eligible American citizens. The film delves into the early 2010s when the Republican Party began to develop an increasingly anti-democratic strategy in response to the increasing diversification of American society. As minority groups and women became more engaged in politics, the GOP realized that its electoral base was shifting and therefore, it needed to find ways to suppress opposition votes to remain competitive. At the heart of the Republican strategy lies the notion that widespread voter fraud is a rampant problem in the United States. This narrative has been expertly crafted through years of disinformation campaigns and outright lies. Key stakeholders in the Republican Party have repeatedly alleged that the integrity of the electoral process is under threat from ineligible voters, often citing baseless examples and anecdotal evidence to justify their claims. These allegations, however, have been consistently debunked by independent fact-checking organizations, experts in election law, and even many mainstream news outlets. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the rhetoric of voter fraud persists, and the effects can be observed in the Republican-led voter suppression efforts. The film explores the various methods used to suppress voter turnout. From voter ID laws, proof of citizenship requirements, and poll closures, these tactics serve as a means to limit voter access. One such example includes the voter ID law in North Carolina, which was struck down by a federal court in 2016 due to its disproportionate impact on minority voters. The law effectively targeted African American voters who are more likely to lack the required documents to prove their identity. In addition to voter ID laws, the film highlights the role of voter roll purges in restricting access to the vote. These programs often target eligible voters without their knowledge or consent, resulting in their removal from voter rolls, rendering them effectively disenfranchised. This is exemplified by the case of Ohio, where a data-driven purge of nearly 300,000 voters resulted in many being mistakenly listed as deceased or removed due to inactivity. The Republican strategy also involves implementing new voting restrictions, designed to deliberately make it difficult for eligible voters to cast their ballots. The film showcases the introduction of so-called "exact match" laws in various states, where voters are required to match their registration information exactly to that on government documents, or else their vote will not be counted. The consequences of these voting restrictions can be observed in real-time, with the decline in voter turnout among certain groups being a stark testament to the impact of voter suppression efforts. As a result, marginalized communities often bear the brunt of these efforts, exacerbating existing power imbalances in the electoral system. The documentary also reveals the role of the Supreme Court in perpetuating these voter suppression tactics. The 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act, gave states the green light to engage in these restrictive practices without federal oversight. The Court's decision led to a wave of voter ID laws and other restrictions that aimed to suppress opposition votes. Ultimately, "Rigged: The Voter Suppression Playbook" is a call to arms, highlighting the need for citizens to remain vigilant against the ongoing attempts to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. Through its in-depth examination of the complex web of voter suppression techniques, the film underscores the importance of protecting the fundamental right to vote, and the ongoing struggle for democracy in America.