2011: Voting Rights Under Attack in State Legislatures
Nothing is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote; indeed, it is protected by more constitutional amendments than any other right we enjoy as Americans. But the fundamental right to cast a ballot was under attack across the country during the 2011 state legislative session.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Alabama
Alabama
Alabama passed legislation to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of Alabama's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Don't let Alabama turn back the clock on the fundamental right to vote -- tell the Department of Justice to object to Alabama's discriminatory voter ID and proof of citizenship laws.
Arkansas
Arkansas
Legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Colorado
Colorado
Legislation to require photo ID and (in certain circumstances) proof of citizenship to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Florida
Florida
Florida passed broad voter suppression legislation that restricts voter registration, early voting and more.
Because of Florida's troubling history of voter suppression, some counties in the state are covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and changes to the state's elections laws that affect those counties are subject to approval — or 'pre-clearance' — by the Department of Justice. The ACLU is asking the federal government to object to this discriminatory new law (more). We?re also suing to prevent Florida from implementing the law before it?s pre-cleared (more).
Also in 2011, Florida's governor and his cabinet -- acting as the Board of Executive Clemency -- adopted a policy change that makes it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights. This voting ban affects an estimated one million Floridians.
Georgia
Georgia
Georgia passed legislation to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa's governor issued an executive order making it nearly impossible for people with past felony convictions to ever regain their voting rights.
In addition, legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Kansas
Kansas
Kansas passed legislation to require proof of citizenship to register to vote and a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Maine
Maine
Maine passed legislation to eliminate election day registration* and restrict absentee voting.
In addition, legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »*The ACLU supports election day registration schemes that do not include photo or non-photo ID requirements.
Minnesota
Minnesota
Legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated. In vetoing the voter ID legislation, Governor Dayton said 'The right to vote is embedded in both the United States and Minnesota Constitutions. In accordance with my oath to uphold both of these foundational documents, it is my duty as Governor to ensure every eligible Minnesota voter is able to exercise this fundamental right and does not face barriers to doing so.'
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Missouri
Missouri
An initiative that would remove key voting protections from the state constitution and open the door to a voter ID law is slated to appear on the 2012 ballot, though the validity of the ballot initiative is being challenged by the ACLU. (More »)
Legislation to require voter ID (pending approval of the constitutional amendment) was vetoed vetoed by the governor. In vetoing the voter ID legislation, Governor Nixon said that the bill 'imposes unnecessary burdens on senior citizens and persons with disabilities, for example, who do not have a government-issued photo ID, with no guarantee that, in the end, their vote will count.'
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Montana
Montana
Legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated. In vetoing the voter ID legislation, Governor Schweitzer said that such ID requirements 'would create an unacceptable and unnecessary burden on many elderly voters, low-income voters, disabled voters and students...[and] interfere with fundamental rights of Montana citizens byimposing new and unnecessary regulations.'
Governor Schweitzer also vetoed legislation that would have eliminated election day registration*.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »*The ACLU supports election day registration schemes that do not include photo or non-photo ID requirements.
North Carolina
North Carolina
Legislation to require photo ID to vote is pending. Though the legislation was vetoed by Governor Perdue, the legislature could vote to override her veto.
In vetoing the voter ID legislation, Governor Perdue said 'The right to choose our leaders is among the most precious freedoms we have -- both as Americans and North Carolinians. North Carolinians who are eligible to vote have a constitutionally guaranteed right to cast their ballots, and no one should put up obstacles to citizens exercising that right...There was a time in North Carolina history when the right to vote was enjoyed only by some citizens rather than by all. That time is past, and we should not revisit it.'
In addition, legislation ending same day registration*, shortening early voting and eliminating Sunday voting was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »*The ACLU supports election day registration schemes that do not include photo or non-photo ID requirements.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire
Legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated. In vetoing the voter ID legislation, Governor Lynch said 'The right to vote is a fundamental right that is guaranteed to all citizens of this State under the United States and New Hampshire Constitutions. An eligible voter who goes to the polls to vote on Election Day should be able to have his or her vote count on Election Day. SB 129 creates a real risk that New Hampshire voters will be denied their right to vote.'
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Ohio
Ohio
Ohio passed broad voter suppression legislation that restricts absentee and early voting, among other things.
In addition, legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
Legislation to require photo ID to vote is pending.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Rhode Island passed legislation requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina passed legislation requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of South Carolina's troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Don't let South Carolina turn back the clock on the fundamental right to vote -- tell the Department of Justice to object to South Carolina's discriminatory voter ID law.
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee passed legislation to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot. The state also passed legislation to require proof of citizenship from certain registered voters and to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Texas
Texas
Texas passed legislation requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot.
Because of Texas' troubling history of voter suppression, any changes in the state's elections laws are subject to approval -- or 'pre-clearance' -- by the Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
Don't let Texas turn back the clock on the fundamental right to vote -- tell the Department of Justice to object to Texas' discriminatory voter ID law.
Virginia
Virginia
Legislation to require photo ID to vote was defeated.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin passed legislation to require voters to show a government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot and to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia passed legislation to shorten the early voting period.
Take Action: Urge Attorney General Holder to enforce the Voting Rights Act and reject these efforts to undermine democracy »
In 2011, legislatures in 18 states debated voter ID legislation, which would create unnecessary hurdles by requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification in order to cast a ballot. Millions of Americans don’t have government-issued photo ID, including disproportionate numbers of African-American, elderly, disabled and student voters. And despite a lack of evidence that ID requirements will prevent fraud, voter ID requirements were ultimately enacted in 7 states this session, with 2 more still pending.
The attack on voting wasn’t limited to voter ID. States also debated and enacted other voting restrictions that will make it harder for Americans to cast votes and have their votes counted, including restrictions on early voting and voter registration, proof of citizenship requirements, and more. The map above details this voter suppression legislative activity during 2011.
The history of our nation is characterized by a gradual expansion of voting rights. These discriminatory restrictions suppress the vote and turn back the clock.