There’s something big looming on the horizon: redistricting. The U.S. Census Bureau will release its full data later this month, giving lawmakers the details they need about their state’s population changes to draw new maps.
The fight for voting rights requires us to use all the tools available to protect our democracy. From the courts, to Congress, to direct action, we can make a difference and protect our elections.
In most states across the country, voters elect their secretary of state. These officials hold the keys to vital parts of the election administration process — and who holds these offices has significant ramifications for elections.
Limiting access to the ballot box weakens our electoral system. But, there’s another side effect of voter suppression laws: Limiting ballot access can have severe economic consequences for a state.
It seems that one solution to low youth turnout in our elections is the most obvious one: make it easier to vote and make sure that young people know that convenient voting methods are available to them.
Special sessions can mean the difference between bills passing or dying — and the circumstances under which they are called can spell the difference between protecting or restricting voting rights.
Over 145 bills proposed by Republican legislatures would reassign various powers of election officials and the executive branch to highly partisan legislatures. This “legislative seizure” could have sweeping consequences.
The ruling in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee limits an already weakened VRA, but lawsuits can and will still be brought to protect voting rights.
Think about who the debate around voting rights often leaves out: the immigrant members of our communities who too often struggle to gain citizenship, and who are unable to have their voices reflected in their government.
Elected officials who claim to be allies of the LGBTQ+ community should immediately work to amend voter ID requirements and make obtaining an accurate ID less costly and strenuous for their trans constituents.
