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Democracy
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The Fight to Vote Presses On
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Nearly every major expansion of voting rights has been pushed through by one party over the objections of the other. History is littered with examples. In the 1820s, Democrats abolished the requirement that voters own land, enfranchising white working-class men over Whig opposition. The most dramatic illustration came after the Civil War, when the 14th and 15th Amendments passed through Congress without a single Democratic vote.
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In an excerpt from the new, expanded edition of his book The Fight to Vote, Michael Waldman tells the story of how the battle over elections became the national affair it is today. “It had the makings of an epic clash: state legislatures were rushing to restrict the vote. At the same time, Congress had the power to stop that voter suppression in its tracks — legally and constitutionally. The great question was whether it had the political will to do so,” he writes. Read more |
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A Victory Against Gerrymandering in Ohio
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Last week, in a major win for Black, Muslim, and immigrant Ohioans, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down state legislative maps that had been adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission last September. The cases’ plaintiffs challenged the maps for what they were: illegal partisan gerrymanders that violated the Ohio Constitution. The Brennan Center represented some of the plaintiffs alongside pro bono counsel at Reed Smith. “The commission is now tasked with drawing replacement maps. We will be watching to ensure that all Ohioans get the fair representation they are due,” Alicia Bannon said. WASHINGTON POST |
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Get the Facts on the Filibuster
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Debates over the filibuster rage on, bringing into question the Senate’s ability to act on issues as diverse as responding to climate change and protecting our democracy. A new Brennan Center fact sheet compiles historical information on the controversial Senate rule, offering a path forward based on previous filibuster reforms and exceptions. “There is ample precedent for future changes to allow the Senate to function as the Framers intended, allowing for substantial debate, deliberation, and ultimately passage of essential legislation to secure American democracy.” read more |
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Races for Offices that Run Elections
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Races across the country for thousands of local and state offices that control how elections are administered and certified, normally low-profile contests, have been nationalized by the election sabotage movement. In the first in a new series of Brennan Center reports, Ian Vandewalker and Lawrence Norden analyze the record-high fundraising for these races, as well as positions that candidates are taking both for and against the Big Lie. read more |
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Campaign Finance Laws at Risk
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Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Federal Election Commission v. Ted Cruz for Senate. The Texas Republican senator is arguing for the elimination of a federal campaign finance rule that limits elected officials’ ability to fundraise to pay themselves back for loans made to their own campaigns. The court battle over this basic anti-corruption rule highlights the importance of passing the Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act. “Regardless of the Court’s decision, the broader question is how much longer Congress will continue ceding the development of campaign finance law to the judiciary,” Daniel Weiner and John J. Martin write. read more |
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Debunking John Lewis Act Myths
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The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which passed the House last week as part of the Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act, is being targeted with misinformation. Andrew Garber refutes common false claims made by those opposing the bill, which would restore the 1965 Voting Rights Act to its full potency. He also identifies what’s really at the heart of their opposition to the update: “The critics haven’t identified flaws in the bill — they oppose the Voting Rights Act, the crown jewel of the civil rights movement that transformed our democracy.” read more |
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Latinos Targeted by Voter Suppression
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Latinos accounted for more than half of the country’s population growth over the last decade, and their political participation is on the rise. States across the country have responded with a wave of voter suppression laws targeting communities of color. For example, a new Texas law would make it harder for Spanish speakers to get help casting their ballots. The Freedom to Vote: John Lewis Act would provide significant relief from these attacks, Mira Ortegon writes. read more |
