African American Archives | American Democracy Minute

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

October 2, 2024October 2, 2024

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?

The End of One South Carolina Gerrymandering Lawsuit and the Beginning of Another, as the Fight for Fair Maps Continues

August 1, 2024August 1, 2024

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a racially gerrymandered South Carolina Congressional district and made future racial gerrymandering cases more difficult. July 29th, pro-voter groups filed a state suit, claiming the gerrymander violated the state constitutional provision to an “equal right to elect officers.”

Developments in the Fight for Fair Voting District Maps in Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin

August 16, 2023December 30, 2023

While we’ve been busy reading indictments, there have been three developments in the last week which may impact gerrymandered Congressional maps in Alabama, Florida and Wisconsin.

New York Court Sends Congressional Redistricting Map Back to Independent Commission; SCOTUS Sets Date to Consider South Carolina Congressional Map

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023

Thursday, a New York state appeals court ordered a redrawing of the state’s Congressional districts. The next day, the U.S. Supreme Court set a date for a South Carolina case which could greenlight MORE gerrymandering.

How the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Decision Re-Opened the Door to State Voter Suppression Legislation

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023

June 25th, 2023 was the tenth anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder, a U.S. Supreme Court decision gutting a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. What was this decision about, and how has it contributed to the erosion of our democracy?