Opinion

Read in-depth op-eds on voting rights and democracy from our contributors, guest authors and Democracy Docket's founder, Marc Elias. Use the drop-down menu to organize by topic.

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The North Carolina Supreme Court Attacked Democracy in Broad Daylight

Whoever said democracy dies in darkness hasn’t met the new North Carolina Supreme Court.

By Anderson Clayton

May 12, 2023

Blue background with red-toned images of a North Carolina driver's license, a receipt for a poll tax, NC Senate Bill 20 and a North Carolina map and dark blue toned image of the NC Supreme Court.

How Can We Trust a Court That Doesn’t Care To Be Independent?

With Thomas’ latest betrayal, the curtain has been pulled back and we can no longer blindly trust his or the Court’s independence.

By Rakim Brooks

May 1, 2023

Red background with black and white toned image of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and images that relate to gifts he was given by Harlan Crow (as revealed by ProPublica) laid out around him including: a mug that says Indonesia, an airplane and passports, a painting of Thomas, Crow and others at Crow's house, a house, keys that say "Mom's House" on it and an image of a friend request between Crow and Thomas.

Republicans Continue To Attack Mail-in Voting

If Republican leaders have had a change of heart about voting by mail, no one has told their lawyers or Republican-controlled legislatures.

By Marc Elias

April 19, 2023

Red background with hands ripping apart a mail-in ballot envelope and black numbered dots outlining the image.

Two Visions for the Constitution Stand Before Us, But It’s Not a Hard Choice

It has been roughly one year since two seismic events in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Rakim Brooks

April 3, 2023

Split background with one side blue and an image of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and the Supreme Court and the other side red with the Dobbs opinion and people holding up signs in protest that read "Overturn Roe? Hell No," "Never Again," and "When injustice becomes law resistance becomes duty."

Saving Our Courts Means Questioning All U.S. Supreme Court Norms

My guiding principle is simple: The public deserves to understand the operations and decisions of its Court.

By Rakim Brooks

March 14, 2023

Pink background with red toned U.S. Supreme Court and all nine justices toned in black and white and holding their hands up from left to right: Brett Kavanaugh, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito.

The Future of Redistricting Rests on These Two U.S. Supreme Court Cases

The outcome in each of these cases is likely to be bad for proponents of redistricting reform. The only question that remains to be answered is: how bad?

By Nick Seabrook

February 24, 2023

Light blue/white background with textured images of U.S. Supreme Court justices from left to right: Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Elena Kagan. Also written is the name of two Supreme Court cases: Moore v. Harper and Merrill v. Milligan.

How the Supreme Court Turned a Community Leader into a Criminal

In 2016, the Arizona Legislature passed a ban on ballot collection that was aimed at decreasing electoral participation by minorities, especially among the state’s large Latino community.

By Marc Elias

February 14, 2023