August 2025 | American Democracy Minute

What is the ‘Materiality Provision’ of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and How Can it Help Protect Voters?

August 31, 2025September 2, 2025

Our report on court challenges to undated or misdated mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania mentioned the “Materiality Provision” of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Just what is the Materiality Provision, and how can it help protect voters?

Pennsylvania Must Count Mail-In Ballots with Missing or Incorrect Dates, Says Federal Appeals Court, Protecting Thousands of Voters Each Election

August 28, 2025August 28, 2025

A Federal appeals court panel ruled August 26th that Pennsylvania counties must count mail-in ballots with a missing or incorrect date. The decision could protect the vote of as many as 10,000 voters each election.

Tarrant County, TX, Already Embroiled in VRA Racial Gerrymandering Litigation, Cuts Election Day and Early Voting Precincts

August 27, 2025August 27, 2025

We recently told you about Tarrant County, Texas, which in June voted to approve blatantly racially gerrymandered county commissioner districts, and was immediately sued under the Voting Rights Act. Now county commissioners have voted to reduce election day and early voting locations in the county.

President Trump Agitates for Release of Convicted Colorado Election Clerk Tina Peters; Federal Judge Won’t Dismiss Class Action Suit Against Elon Musk

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

We have updates on two stories we brought you last year, as President Donald Trump attempts to get convicted Colorado county clerk Tina Peters released, and Elon Musk faces a class action suit over alleged empty promises made to swing state petition signers.

Federal 5th District Court Rules Mississippi Must Redraw State Supreme Court Districts to Allow Black Voters to Elect a Candidate of Their Choice

August 24, 2025August 25, 2025

Recent estimates put Mississippi’s Black population at around 37%. Of Mississippi’s former and current 104 state supreme court justices, only four have been African American, including only one of nine sitting justices. An August 19th ruling from a federal 5th Circuit district court may change that.