Final answer:
Political parties can use voter registration rules to shape the electorate in their favor through measures like strict voter ID laws or promoting voter-friendly practices like automatic registration. Parties target voter demographics that align with their agenda and may actively work to either increase or decrease overall turnout.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political parties may use voter registration rules to their advantage in various ways. When it comes to advocating for universal suffrage, promoting fair and open elections, encouraging civic education, or manipulating voter registration requirements, political parties can shape the electorate to better align with their agenda. For instance, parties may push for voter ID laws or reduced early voting to influence voter turnout.
Through tactics like establishing strict voter ID requirements, which the ACLU argues can act as barriers to voting, parties may dissuade certain demographics from participating in elections. Conversely, by promoting initiatives like all-mail voting, weekend elections, and automatic voter registration, they can work to increase turnout among demographics that are more likely to support them. Voters face the challenge of deciding where to register, which can be particularly daunting for out-of-state or college students.
The Motor Voter Law has enabled automatic voter registration through driver's license applications in some states, while others require citizens to declare a political party during the registration process to vote in primaries. Parties often focus on registering voters that align with their ideology, bolstering their base for upcoming elections.