Partisan Battles In Swing States Are Costing Democracy Dearly This article was produced by of the Independent Media Institute. Like endless candidate fundraising, partisan battles over accessing a ballot and voting have become akin to a "permanent campaign" in America's battleground statesâwhere voters often decide which party holds national power. Not every state's voters determine which party wins congressional majorities and the presidency. But among the states that tip these outcomes, partisan battles over the ease or difficulty of voting have become ongoing features of their political lifeâbleeding over from completed elections into state legislative sessions and forcing voters and local election officials to pivot as the cycle continues.