Voter Suppression

Voting rights are under attack in this country. States are making it harder for people to vote as legislatures pass voter suppression laws under the pretext of preventing voter fraud and safeguarding election integrity. These regressive laws take many forms and pose significant barriers for eligible voters trying to exercise their most fundamental constitutional right.

09/04/2012

Voter Suppression

South Carolina Doesn’t Need a Voter ID Law

As a former South Carolina State Election Commissioner, I hope that the U.S. District Court will see the new South Carolina voter ID law for what it is and block its implementation.

05/04/2012

Voter Suppression

Keeping Ohio’s Souls at the Polls: Sen. Durbin Holds Field Hearing on Ohio Voting Law

By Deborah J. Vagins, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 11:30am

On Monday, May 7, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights will hold a field hearing in Cleveland, Ohio to examine the impact of Ohio’s new voting law, HB 194.

03/12/2012

Voter ID

Standing up for Voting Rights Again: DOJ Objects to Texas' Discriminatory Voter ID Law

By Katie O'Connor, Voting Rights Project at 2:04pm

The Justice Department has objected to Texas' proposed voter ID law, stopping the law before it goes into effect.

03/06/2012

Voter Suppression

Colbert: Voting Advocates Destroying America

By Steve Gosset, ACLU at 9:53am

Did you hear the one about the Florida teacher who registered students to vote but was fined $1,000 when she didn’t turn the forms in right away?

Actually, it’s no joke. Then again, it might be, as Stephen Colbert was good enough to show us last week on The Colbert Report.

What are raising his hackles, according to the ACLU of Florida, are do-gooders like this teacher who have the temerity to lead by example. In a segment on the program, Colbert, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, found truthiness in attempts by Sunshine State officials to sunset various ways to make it easier to vote there.

02/15/2012

Celebrate Black History

Working in Communities Still Brings Me Joy

By Nsombi Lambright, ACLU of Mississippi at 3:24pm

Working directly in communities centers me and reminds me what this work is all about.

12/16/2011

Voter Suppression

The Democracy Restoration Act: Creating A Broader and More Just Base of Voter Participation

By Deborah J. Vagins, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:59pm

Jessica Chiappone was convicted of a nonviolent drug offense. Since serving her prison sentence, she has turned her life around, completed law school and hopes to become a public defender. But because of her felony conviction, Jessica is unable to vote, hold public office or sit on a jury – all requirements for admission to the Florida Bar.

08/13/2012

Voter Suppression

Sorry, We’re Closed: Some Ohio Counties Opt Against Extra Early Voting Hours

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 4:59pm

Ohio elections are once again making national news, but not exactly in the way we’d hoped. County Boards of Elections are deciding whether they will be open extended hours on evenings and weekends for early in-person voting. In 2008, many counties, including Cuyahoga and Franklin (home to Cleveland and Columbus) had large numbers of voters use these extended hours.

PODCAST
3 prominent Ohio pastors talk about why early voting is important to their communities>>

05/07/2012

Voter Suppression

Let Andre Vote

By Eunice Hyon Min Rho, ACLU at 4:37pm

President Barack Obama kicked off his reelection campaign last week in Columbus, Ohio. Governor Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, will be in Cleveland today.

04/05/2012

Voter ID

Let Ruthelle Vote

By Elizabeth Beresford, ACLU at 2:39pm

After multiple lawsuits, 84-year-old Ruthelle Frank was able to vote in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. But she still might not be able to vote in November.

03/09/2012

Voter Suppression

Let's March On: Protecting the Right to Vote in 2012

By Laura W. Murphy, Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 12:33pm

Today marks the 47th anniversary of the fateful march from Selma to Montgomery, which began with the horrors of Bloody Sunday, and concluded with a rally and speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., only days after President Lyndon B. Johnson submitted the Voting Rights Act to Congress.

As I prepare to join Rev. Al Sharpton and other civil and human rights leaders on the steps of the Capitol in Montgomery today to commemorate that historic march, I am reminded of both where we've been as a nation and how great the need is, in the words of Dr. King, to keep marching on. The greatest legacy of the civil rights movement — access to the ballot — is in jeopardy across the country.

American Civil Liberties Union