For the last few decades, the Republican party has been accused of passing legislation perceived as anti-minority voting restrictions. Politics, especially in a democratic society like the United States, is seen as a game of numbers, with each party will consider legal means to give them an advantage over the other.

Over the last few decades, the majority of Black voters, Hispanics, and other minority groups in the US have overwhelmingly supported the Democratic party. As statistical trends show that the white population of America will become a minority in the near future, Republicans have sought ways to prevent electoral disadvantages.  

One strategy used by the Republican party has been to pass legislations to restrict or lower voter turnout from demographic groups traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party. Over the last few years, Republican-controlled states have passed legislation perceived as being restrictive for people of color to vote.  Some of these laws have been challenged by civil societies and even the Department of Justice as a rollback of voting laws that were passed by Congress in the 1960s.

The victory of President Trump in 2024 elections included a coalition of voters from all sectors of American demographic sectors, including minority groups. Many feel they have unheard by the Democratic Party despite their historical support. The Arab-Americans felt the Biden-Harris administration was too pro-Israel in the Israel-Gaza War, African Americans felt their economic and political interests had not improved, and socially conservative Hispanic and African immigrants found their views to be aligned more with the Republican Party.

These factors contributed in giving President Trump a large percentage of votes from minorities that previous Republican candidates could not muster. This challenges the assumption that minority voters are a guaranteed Democratic voting bank. Republicans may no longer see restrictive votes as beneficial. Instead, they may try to make voting more accessible to minority groups now viewed as potential Republican voters. As a result, there may be a reduction or even a rollback of some of the “restrictive” voting laws passed in Republican-controlled states. 

As the second Trump presidency begins, the next four years will reveal if minority voting rights are empowered due the fight for their votes by both the Democrats and Republicans.

Oumar Fofana is a freelance writer for IA-Forum.