Final answer:
Expanding suffrage impacts U.S. politics and policy by making government more inclusive and representative, changing political strategies and positions, and shifting power dynamics to reflect a broader electorate. Voter suppression efforts, however, can counteract the benefits of suffrage expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expanding suffrage, or voting rights, has significant implications for politics and policy in the United States. Over the nation's history, suffrage expansion has often led to more inclusive and representative government. With each amendment and law passed to remove barriers to voting - such as the 15th Amendment (racial barriers), 19th Amendment (gender barriers), and 26th Amendment (age barriers) - the political landscape has been directly affected, shifting power dynamics and often leading to policies that better reflect the diverse interests of the electorate.
As suffrage expands, it also changes the strategy and positions of political parties. For example, the 1912 election saw a shift in stances toward women's suffrage; political candidates had to consider the growing influence of women voters. Similarly, when suffrage expanded to include African Americans and younger voters, politicians needed to address the issues and concerns of these groups to win elections. These expansions can also mitigate against governmental abuses of power, as broader suffrage distributes political power more equitably among the population.
However, even as suffrage has expanded, there have been efforts, such as restrictive voter ID laws and reduced early voting, which critics argue are forms of voter suppression. These actions can dilute the impact of suffrage expansion by making it more difficult for certain groups to exercise their right to vote, therefore potentially affecting the representativeness of politics and policy.