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How Can Truth-Claims of Voter Fraud Influence Public Policy? A Political Discourse Analysis

<p> Voter-identification (ID) proponents claim that requiring voters to present photo-ID cards prevents fraud. Supported by a comprehensive empirical review, voter-ID opponents argue that significant voter fraud is nonexistent and that such restrictive laws suppress turnout of historically disenfranchised peoples. By analyzing testimonial letters to a state-legislature committee hearing, I show how repeating the false truth-claims can produce wide acceptance, through outright deception and cognitive biases. Focusing on the State of Kansas, my paper asks, &ldquo;How do proponents of strict voter-ID laws frame their cases for relevant legislation?&rdquo; and &ldquo;Where does the research originate that they cite in state legislative hearings to support their claims?&rdquo; From a content-analysis method of tallying critical words, phrases, and concepts, I tailored a discourse-analysis (DA) discipline. While analyzing grammatical structures, I focused more on the specific social, cultural, and political significances. Using terms and phrases such as &ldquo;Those&rdquo; &ldquo;diseased&rdquo; &ldquo;Others&rdquo; are &ldquo;stealing <i>Our</i> way of life,&rdquo; the political DA reveals that voter-ID proponents dehumanize the alleged perpetrators of voter fraud (often referenced as &ldquo;illegals&rdquo;). My five primary findings reveal how voter-ID proponents bolster their claims: arguing that their opponents willfully undermine democracy with voter fraud; fostering solidarity, dividing &ldquo;Us&rdquo; from the fraudulent voting &ldquo;Others&rdquo;; cultivating racism; manipulating legislators with urgent warnings; and buttressing their arguments with anecdotes, biased sources, and demonstrable lies. By revealing the persuasive powers of such discursive techniques, my paper provides a qualitative, critical nuance to the quantitative studies that address voter fraud.</p><p>

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:13861751
Date25 April 2019
CreatorsWilliams, Gregory T.
PublisherFielding Graduate University
Source SetsProQuest.com
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typethesis

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