The Biden administration needs to do more to support every eligible American’s access to the ballot. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
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Brennan Center for Justice
 
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This week marks 58 years since the historic civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama, that became known as Bloody Sunday after state troopers attacked the peaceful marchers. On the anniversary two years ago, President Biden ordered federal agencies to take action to make it easier to register and vote. Yet still too many Americans — especially people of color — face significant barriers to fully participating in our democracy. There’s been some progress implementing the executive order inspired by the bravery in Selma in 1965, but the administration needs to do much more — and the clock is ticking.
Congress enacted the Electoral Count Reform Act to fix flaws in the 19th-century law that were exposed by the efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. A new Brennan Center explainer details the updated rules for casting, counting, and certifying Electoral College votes. We still need broader legislative reforms to fully protect democracy, but for now, the revised process offers crucial safeguards.
A new poll shows a majority of New Yorkers across party lines support their state’s groundbreaking public campaign financing program, which promises to counter the outsize influence of wealthy special interests by amplifying the power of small donors. But to make politicians more accountable to their constituents, state leadership must give the program the funding it needs to succeed.
A new federal policy will require states to dedicate a portion of their homeland security grants to bolstering election security. This money will provide much-needed support to state and local election offices. The new funds won’t cover the estimated $300 million nationwide cost of protecting election workers over the next five years, but it’s an important first step to defend those who help guarantee free and fair elections.
In order to collect more accurate data, the government is proposing changes to how the census form asks about race and ethnicity. This long-awaited overhaul would help protect civil rights and boost the political, legal, and economic power of communities that have long been undercounted. Modifying the questionnaire is a good start, but there’s still more that Congress and the White House need to do to improve the accuracy, equity, and legitimacy of future censuses.

 
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Ongoing redistricting fights mean some states may see more gerrymandered voting maps in the next election. Learn more and follow the Brennan Center on Instagram >>
 

 
Virtual Events
 
Saying It Loud: In Conversation with Mark Whitaker and Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, March 14, 6–7 p.m. ET
Five decades ago, the words “Black Power” transformed the civil rights movement, ushering out the nonviolent philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis and heralding the turbulent year of 1966. Join us for a virtual premiere with journalist and author Mark Whitaker and Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist Eugene Robinson as Whitaker walks us through his new book, Saying It Loud: 1966—The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement, and tells the story of that groundbreaking year. This premiere YouTube stream will include a live text chat Q&A with Whitaker. RSVP today.
 
Produced in partnership with the NYU Law Black Allied Law Students Association

 
 
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law
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646-292-8310
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