Campaign Legal Center’s Post

August 6 marks the 59th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. What happened after the passage of that act? Join me for this two part lecture that explores this question. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ebuFPJJ8

The 5th Circuit (opinion linked in article) ruled that Black and Latino voters could not form coalitions together - put differently, it does not legally recognize intersectional or dual discrimination against voters of color collectively by redistricting schemes which favor White voters against people of color. The issue is not that this type of discrimination doesn't exist--it definitely does and it is increasing--but whether there is any legal remedy. As our nation becomes more and more multiracial, federal courts are retrogressing. The 5th Circuit opinion is very far from what the Voting Rights Act of 1965 intended, and although it's a longshot, I hope that the Supreme Court would overturn it. #VotingRights

Senate Democrats have reintroduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 approaches. The aim is to combat voter discrimination and enhance ballot access. In light of the 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision, which weakened voting protections, and recent state-level rollbacks on voting laws, Democrats emphasize the critical need to safeguard voting rights, especially for people of color. The reintroduction of the legislation aligns with the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a significant event that catalyzed the passage of the Civil Rights Act. This underscores the ongoing struggle to uphold voting rights and ensure that all Americans have unimpeded access to the ballot box.

Despite 🌟17,000🌟 Black residents attempting to register, only 1,600 applications were accepted. These efforts underscored the need for federal voting rights legislation, paving the way for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Learn about the courageous individuals behind these numbers in our next post! #FreedomSummer #CivilRightsMovement #VotingRights #BlackHistoryEveryDay #MarchOnxFreedomSummer

The #languageaccess portion of the report begins on page 183

"When we look at the state of Georgia, in many ways, it is ground zero on this issue, both in terms of Georgia’s history of fighting for the right of people to express their dreams and goals for their country through the exercise of their right to vote. Georgia, of course, the home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the home of John Lewis, of Andy Young, and, of course, many of the leaders who are at this table. ... So, [voting rights] is a big issue. And the President and I have been doing our work as an administration, for example, before when — before we got in office, Vote.gov — which many of you have been reminding folks exists and is there to help them — there were only two languages available: English and Spanish. We have now extended that to 17 languages, which includes Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and Navajo. (Applause.) Yes. Before we came into office, federal workers were guaranteed paid time off only to vote. Since we came in office, paid time off to vote is still in place and paid time off to serve as a poll worker. And the federal government, of course, is the largest employer in the country in terms of public employer. And so, this is a big matter in terms of allowing people to, again, exercise their civic duty and their sense of duty without having to sacrifice their — their ability to put food on the table to do it. And all of that to say the President I will continue to fight on these issues, including to urge and to compel, as best as we can, Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act." Thank you, VP Harris! vote.gov (via Brennan Center for Justice)

5 Ways to Volunteer for Voting Rights Here are five ways you can empower voters and defend democracy through volunteer work. 1. Register Voters 2. Spread the Word 3. Advocate for Voting Rights Legislation 4. Get Your Friends to Follow the Leader 5. Support Voting Rights Organizations Join your local League of Women Voters of San Antonio TODAY!

My new book, The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights, comes out in ONE WEEK! I've learned a lot about publishing, including the importance of pre-sales. Pre-sales are vital to a book's success. Best seller lists count all preorders as "week 1 sales," so the main way to land on a best seller list is to have really strong pre-sales (not that I think the book will be a bestseller, but hey, a guy can dream!). So, if you're planning on buying the book (or 3!), this week and early next week are the best times. If you pre-order, it should arrive on May 14, the day it comes out. Feel free to share this post with your networks. Help to create buzz about the book. After all, the goal here is to educate the American public on the Supreme Court and voting rights. Thanks for your support in our efforts to support democracy. https://lnkd.in/e9B78F59

Please join us for a discussion on the current state and future of voting rights in an era of profound political polarization at all levels of government. The aim of this Symposium is to offer a critical vehicle for discussing the ever changing voting rights landscape and potential legal avenues that could address many of the challenges and concerns within it. Panel discussions in the Symposium will include: -The Future of the Voting Rights Act  -The State of Voting Rights Litigation -Legal Remedies for Voting Rights Violations -Threats to Election Administration

Today marks 59 years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which guaranteed that the right to vote would not be denied because of race. More than a decade ago, the Supreme Court gutted important pieces of this landmark bill, paving the way for voter suppression tactics that today disproportionately impact voters of color and low-income voters. Equal access to the ballot box is essential to a healthy democracy. Now more than ever, we must do all we can to protect this fundamental right and make sure that our democracy works for all of us.