Code Switch Stacey Abrams on how voter suppression threatens democracy
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Oct 11, 2025 
Stacey Abrams, a prominent voting rights activist and founder of the American Pride Rises Network, discusses the urgent threats to democracy posed by voter suppression. She highlights how demographic shifts and targeted tactics are increasing restrictions on voters of color. Abrams details the ten steps leading rights from democracy to autocracy, and emphasizes the role of local governance in restoring faith in the electoral process. Her call to action? Stay engaged, hold officials accountable, and ensure every vote counts.
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Race Shapes Voter Suppression Strategy
- Race is the strongest predictor of political leanings and drives targeted efforts to restrict voting access.
- Politicians use mapping, purges, and census manipulation to entrench power as demographics shift.
Suppression Is A Connected Strategy
- Voter suppression is a coordinated set of tactics including gerrymandering, purges, and altering the census.
- These connected moves aim to deny representation to communities of color and other marginalized groups long-term.
Defend Voting Rights Across Parties
- Defend voting rights across parties because authoritarianism targets power, not party.
- Hold every political actor accountable to protect voting as a national, not partisan, responsibility.