Voter Fraud Vs Voter Suppression: What’s The Real Problem?

People voting at a polling place set up at the Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Los Angeles during the Nov. 8, 2016 general election.
People voting at a polling place set up at the Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Los Angeles during the Nov. 8, 2016 general election. Nick Ut / Associated Press
People voting at a polling place set up at the Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Los Angeles during the Nov. 8, 2016 general election.
People voting at a polling place set up at the Kenter Canyon Elementary School in Los Angeles during the Nov. 8, 2016 general election. Nick Ut / Associated Press

Voter Fraud Vs Voter Suppression: What’s The Real Problem?

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Recount efforts in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, combined with Donald Trump tweeting that “millions” of people had voted illegally has led many to wonder how much of this year’s election was influenced by fraudulent votes.

However, others say the fear of voter fraud is what leads to policies that drive voter suppression. Those policies include voter ID laws, felon disenfranchisement laws, and reducing the number of polling places in minority communities.

Morning Shift spoke to Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern about the role voter fraud and voter suppression played in this election.