The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Feb. 19, 2026
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The conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court has steadily gutted Voting Rights Act protections for minority voters in recent decades. With few protections left, and a pending decision likely to make it worse, nine states have passed state VRAs. The Maryland Senate just advanced a portion of the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026.
The 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision neutralized enforcement of the federal VRA’s “preclearance” requirements for states and municipalities with a history of discrimination. The decision unleashed a torrent of voter suppression legislation in GOP-dominated states. Now, an expected decision in Louisiana v. Callais may further dismantle federal VRA rules protecting minority voters from racial gerrymandering.
The Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026 is composed of multiple bills. Senate Bill 255, passed February 11th in the state senate, prohibits municipalities from erecting barriers to suppress minority voters, and guarantees individuals the right to challenge discrimination. Similarly, HB 219 prohibits voter intimidation, deception or obstruction, and instructs judges to prioritize voting rights. HB 584 is a constitutional amendment enshrining those protections, including an equal right to vote for all citizens.
State VRAs have now been passed in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington, and introduced in eight others.
We’ve linked the Maryland Voting Rights Act bills at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
MDVRA – About the Maryland Voting Rights Act
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – The Maryland Voting Rights Act (MDVRA)
Maryland Assembly – SB 255 Voting Rights Act of 2026 – Counties and Municipal Corporations
Maryland Assembly – HB 219 – Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026 – Voter Intimidation and Suppression
Maryland Assembly – HB 584 Clean Maryland Democracy Amendment
National Conference of State Legislatures – State Voting Rights Acts
NAACP Legal Defense Fund – State Voting Rights Acts with Summary for Each State
Past ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – (2024) With the SCOTUS Majority Intent on Dismantling the Voting Rights Act, Pro-Democracy States are Enacting State VRAs
American Democracy Minute – (2024) U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Washington State Case Challenging the Washington Voting Rights Act
American Democracy Minute (2025) Colorado Senate Advances State Voting Rights Act, As Federal VRA is Under Threat by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Conservative Majority
Groups Taking Action:
MDVRA, Legal Defense Fund, Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause MD
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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