Category: Voter Suppression

The U.S. Department of Justice is Requesting All Voter Records for 12 States, Likely a Violation of Privacy and Free Speech Rights

The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to 12 secretaries of state requesting their complete voter records as part of President Trump’s executive order on elections. The reason for the request isn’t completely clear, nor is the legality of such a request, which may violate the privacy and free speech rights of U.S. citizens.

Citing the Equal Protection Clause, FL Supreme Court Allows DeSantis Redistricting Plan to Wipe Out Black Majority Congressional District

The Florida Supreme Court, citing the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, upheld the racial gerrymandering of a North Florida congressional district, which eliminated a long-standing Black majority district.  Use of the Equal Protections Clause is the latest anti-voter tactic to undo protections for minority voters. 

Tale of Two States:  New Mexico Rolls Out Automatic Voter Registration while New Hampshire Mandates ID & Citizenship Docs for Absentee Voters

New Mexico rolled out its automatic voter registration system July 1st, allowing citizens to conveniently register to vote or change residency information while at the DMV. Across the country, New Hampshire’s legislature may burden its elderly and disabled absentee voters by requiring copies of ID when voting by mail, and citizenship papers when registering by mail.

In Puzzling Move, U.S. Supreme Court Orders More Arguments in Louisiana Redistricting Case Pitting VRA Against Equal Protections Clause

The U.S. Supreme Court was expected to announce an opinion June 27th in Louisiana v. Callais, one of the most important voting rights cases of the year. Instead, in a highly unusual move, the court ordered new arguments in the case pitting the Voting Rights Act of 1965 against the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protections Clause.