States have recently enacted changes in election rules that make it harder for many citizens to
vote. Supporters of such changes claim they are necessary to reduce voter fraud. Pointing out
that the cited types of fraud almost never happen, opponents decry the new restrictions as just the latest episode in a history of attempts to disenfranchise certain voters. While this disagreement rages on, it is important to ask about the practical effects of voting restrictions. Our research suggests that making it harder for some Americans to vote is likely to exacerbate the political
effects of economic inequality. Income gaps have risen sharply in the United States, and new
voting restrictions could prevent governments from acting to limit or counter this trend