In a recent report released by the Brennan Center for Justice, it was found that the difference in turnout between white and nonwhite voters in the United States has significantly grown over the past decade. The report has raised concerns among experts at the Brennan Center, who fear for the state of American democracy.

According to Wendy Weiser, the vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center, it is alarming to witness a consistently widening gap in participation between voters of color and white voters in a democratic society. The report highlights that this racial turnout gap is primarily attributed to the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which suspended Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Section 5 was a crucial measure that compelled jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination against Black voters to obtain approval from the Justice Department for any changes to voting laws or processes. The report indicates that the racial turnout gap is growing most rapidly in areas that were previously covered by Section 5.

The new restrictions on voting that have been implemented across the country since the Supreme Court case play a significant role in exacerbating the turnout gap, according to the report. Weiser explains that there has been a sharp increase in restrictive voting laws nationwide, and when these laws pile on top of each other, their impact on the voting process becomes more evident.

The findings of the report demonstrate that the racial turnout gap is not limited to counties previously covered by Section 5 but exists across all regions of the United States. In the 2022 midterms, the racial turnout gap was higher than in any previous midterms since 2006. Researchers discovered that between the 2018 and 2022 midterms, the turnout gap increased by 5 percentage points between white voters and nonwhite voters, and by 8 points between white voters and Black voters specifically.

Kevin Morris and Coryn Grange, co-authors of the report, emphasize the influential power of nonwhite voters who choose not to participate, stating that if the turnout gap had not existed in the 2020 presidential election, an additional nine million ballots would have been cast. They argue that the racial turnout gap holds significant consequences for the American political system.

The report's research and analysis were based on a database containing nearly a billion voting record files from across the country, making it one of the most comprehensive assessments of voter turnout rates to date. The report calls for further examination of strategies to address and close the racial turnout gap, with the primary recommendation being the restoration of the full Voting Rights Act.

However, achieving this recommendation may prove challenging as Democrats prioritize voting rights measures and have introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in Congress, while Republicans largely oppose these proposals, expressing concerns about potential fraud. Despite the partisan divide, Weiser remains hopeful that both Democrats and Republicans will support reforms aimed at protecting and enhancing the integrity of the voting process.

She stresses that the issue at hand extends beyond party lines, as the votes lost due to barriers to voting affect individuals from all political affiliations. Moving forward, it is crucial to address the growing racial turnout gap and ensure equal access to the voting booth for all citizens, irrespective of their race or background.

The Brennan Center's report serves as a wake-up call for American democracy, prompting a greater focus on restoring the Voting Rights Act and implementing measures to close the racial turnout gap.