Voting Rights & Elections
The vote is the heart of democracy. Yet today, our voting systems are deeply flawed. Ineffective election administration, unaccountable purges of voter registration lists and insecure electronic systems threaten to disenfranchise countless American citizens. New barriers to voting such as highly restrictive voter ID requirements threaten to disenfranchise millions more.
Voting rights and election integrity depend upon sound administration in thousands of jurisdictions. America's irreducible goals should be: everyone who wants to register, can register; everyone who wants to vote, can vote; every vote that is cast is a vote that is counted.
The Brennan Center for Justice fights to strengthen America's voting systems. Presentations on vote suppression strategies and their promotion by the U.S. Department of Justice can be found here and here. In the past two years, we successfully challenged anti-voter laws in Florida, Ohio, and Washington. We published national studies on issues ranging from electronic voting to voter databases. We helped pass pro-voter and defeat anti-voter laws in dozens of states and in Congress. We track federal election reform legislation at Federal Election Reform. Now we are engaged in a long-term effort to reform voting laws, with new proposals to improve electronic voting, restore the voting rights of people with felony convictions, and a forthcoming proposal for a system of universal voter registration.
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Browning
Case challenging restrictions on third-party voter registration drives.
A lawsuit filled by the Brennan Center and other voting rights advocates challenging Florida’s requirement that the driver’s license or Social Security number on a registration form be verified before a voter can be registered to vote.
Common Cause/Georgia v. Billups
Case challenging the constitutionality of a Georgia law requiring voters to present photo ID as a condition of voting.
We Want You…to be a Poll Worker
In an election year, the answer to “what can I do?” can be gratifyingly immediate…
FL: Still Much Work to Be Done
Yesterday, Governor Charlie Crist (R) reported that Florida has restored voting rights to 115,232 people with felony convictions since the state revised its clemency procedure....
Gone Von Spakovsky, Enter McGahn
Late Friday, a letter sent from Federal Election Commission (FEC) nominee Hans von Spakovsky to the White House officially withdrawing his name....
Illustrations by Risko
Court Declines to Block Florida’s No-Match No-Vote Law
Lawsuit prompted changes to restrictive voter registration rule, but revised law could still disenfranchise thousands of eligible Florida voters in 2008. Ruling poses latest obstacle to eligible Florida voters seeking to register and vote in ‘08
Challenging The Constitutionality of Florida’s No-Match No-Vote Law
After court-reversal, voting rights advocates challenge constitutionality of Florida’s “No-Match No-Vote Law.” Law could disenfranchise thousands of eligible Florida voters in 2008.
NAMUDNO v. Mukasey: Victory for Voting Rights Act
A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia upheld a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that prevents states and local governments from enacting voting practices that discriminate based on race.
Letter to Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller
Letter to Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller regarding the acceptance of mail-in voter registration forms.
National Network for Election Reform Applauds Kansas Governor Sebelius’s Veto of H.B. 2019
Statement of the National Network for Election Reform applauding Kansas Governor Sebelius for vetoing H.B. 2019, which would have disenfranchised thousands of eligible Kansans by requiring the presentation of photo ID to vote and documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Letter in Support of H.R. 5803
Letter in support of H.R. 5803, the Back Up Paper Ballot Bill.
Restrictions on Community-Based Voter Registration Drives
A summary of state statutory restrictions on voter registration drives.
Proof of Citizenship Requirements; Chart of State Legislation
In the most recent session (2007–2008), legislators in 19 different states have proposed proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration. The chart here, last updated on 6/19/2008, sets forth the known bills and their current status.
Analysis of New Restrictive Identification Requirements, Missouri Senate Bill 1014 & 730
The Brennan Center opposed two Missouri State Senate Bills, which were ultimately passed on June 14, 2006, whose restrictive identification requirements have disenfranchised many voters for the reasons presented in this legislative analysis.