Higher overall turnout in Georgia’s primary conceals a widening racial turnout gap. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
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Some have pointed to increased turnout in Georgia’s primary this year as proof that the state’s 2021 restrictive voting law isn’t really interfering with anyone’s right to vote. But new analysis by the Brennan Center shows that despite higher overall turnout, the white-Black racial turnout gap was wider in 2022 than in any other year in at least a decade. These numbers suggest that, as with many other voter suppression laws, Georgia’s legislation is likely disproportionately keeping Black voters from the polls.
After the loss of federal abortion rights, a growing number of states are joining the push to add Equal Rights Amendments to their constitutions. A new Brennan Center resource details existing state-level gender equality provisions as well as states with active efforts to include such protections. In the face of federal courts’ increasing hostility to many forms of civil rights protection, state courts and constitutions will continue to serve as critical spaces for advancing gender equality in the coming years.
Harmful conditions, untrained staff, and a lack of behavioral health services have made suicide the leading cause of jail deaths. Fixing this overlooked national crisis will require genuine change that addresses its underlying causes. Without sustainable investments in public health both in and out of jails, we will continue to see more preventable deaths behind bars.
With the ongoing flood of false claims about elections, Latino voters are especially at risk of encountering misinformation. As the largest share of new voters in the United States, they are often the target of restrictive voting laws that aim to curb their growing political power. To counteract the spread of misinformation and voter suppression efforts, election officials must be proactive in educating the public, shutting down rumors, and making concerted efforts to support Latino voters.
President Biden’s use of emergency powers to forgive student loan debt sets a troubling precedent. These powers are designed to temporarily give presidents greater authority to address a sudden crisis, not implement long-term policy solutions that Congress has refused to pass. Though Biden’s goal may be worthy, misusing executive authority opens the door to more serious abuses by future presidents.

 
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How January 6 Is Poisoning Politics
Tuesday, September 13 // 1–2 p.m. ET
The congressional January 6 hearings drew more than 13 million viewers this summer and will ramp up again ahead of the midterm elections. As deep fissures plague American democracy, are the hearings bringing the nation together or further deepening the divisions? Political journalists Jonathan Martin and Betsy Fischer Martin explore the insurrection’s impact and how voters might express their concerns for the future of democracy at the polls in November. RSVP today.

 
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