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The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey's findings reveal that many Americans still struggle with basic knowledge about their government and constitutional rights. Knowledge is power. The more we understand about how our government functions, the better equipped we are to advocate for ourselves and our communities. I'd like to see more resources and initiatives that support comprehensive civic education. #CivicEducation #PublicPolicy #Knowledge #Government

🇺🇸 Embracing Civic Duty: Exercising the Right to Vote 🗳️ As an American citizen, I take great pride in our nation's rich history and the principles upon which it was founded. One of the fundamental rights bestowed upon us is the right to vote – a cornerstone of our democracy and a privilege that should never be taken for granted. Every time I step into the voting booth, I am reminded of the countless individuals who fought tirelessly for the freedoms we enjoy today. From suffragists who paved the way for women's suffrage to civil rights activists who championed equality for all, their sacrifices serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of civic engagement. By casting my ballot, I am not only honoring their legacy but also fulfilling my civic duty as a responsible citizen. It's a powerful expression of democracy in action – a voice for change, progress, and the values that define us as a nation. As we approach each election, I am reminded of the profound impact that every vote can have on shaping the future of our country. Whether it's at the local, state, or national level, each election offers us the opportunity to make our voices heard and to stand up for the issues that matter most to us. So let us embrace our role as active participants in the democratic process, and let us never forget the privilege and responsibility that comes with being an American citizen. Together, we can continue to uphold the ideals of freedom, justice, and equality that make our nation great. #ProudAmerican #VotingMatters #CivicDuty 🇺🇸🗳️

In a historic legal victory, the small town of Newbern, Alabama, has won a lawsuit that restores the fundamental right to vote for its residents. For the first time in decades, the people of Newbern will have their voices heard and their votes counted, thanks to the tireless efforts of Mayor Patrick Braxton and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. For years, the Black vote has been and continues to be, systematically under attack across the United States. This case is a powerful reminder of the importance of voting rights and the ongoing struggle for racial equity and justice in America. It underscores the critical role of legal advocacy and community resilience in ensuring that every citizen has a say in their government. As we celebrate this monumental win, let us continue to champion the cause of voting rights and work towards a more inclusive and democratic society. #VotingRights #JusticePrevails #Leadership #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialJustice Read the full story here: [HuffPost Article](https://lnkd.in/e3p7E2xm)

Grateful for discussion and reflection in community with students today focused on MLK’s work fighting for voting rights and one of the most significant parts of civil rights legislation. MLK prioritized voting rights for African Americans because it meant political empowerment, electing reps aligned w/ anti-discrimination efforts & systemic change, legal equality, ending segregation, and using a nonviolent path to challenge injustice. Voting was a strategic tool in the broader civil rights movement. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 transformed American democracy in various ways: 1. End Discrimination: Outlawed discriminatory practices like literacy tests & poll taxes. 2. Federal Oversight: Section 5 mandated federal approval for voting law changes in areas with histories of discriminatory practices. 3. Minority Representation: Removed barriers, boosting minority participation and representation. 4. Expanded Protections: Amendments covered language minorities, people with disabilities, and other subtle forms of discrimination. 5. Political Empowerment: Empowered marginalized communities, fostering more inclusive democracy. Debates persist on the Act leading to ongoing legislative developments and legal challenges today. While the VRA still stands, recent changes and challenges are affecting dynamics that include: Changes: 1. SCOTUS Decision (2013): Struck down Section 4(b), weakening preclearance. Challenges: 1. Voter ID Laws: Raising concerns about minority disenfranchisement. 2. Redistricting: Persistent issues affecting fair minority representation. 3. Polling Place Closures: Disproportionately impacting minority communities. 4. Voting Access Restrictions: Debates on laws limiting early voting and mail-ins, raising voter suppression concerns. May we continue to reflect upon & strive toward love & justice‬… “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.” - Brother Martin Luther King Jr #MLK #VotingRights #VRA1965 #VotingRightsAct #VoterSuppression

Very happy to share that my most significant piece so far, "Political Equality and Epistemic Constraints on Voting" is now out in Philosophy and Public Affairs, open access. It constructs a non-instrumental case for modest constraints on voting procedures, offering what is to my knowledge the only alternative to standard epistocratic views in the literature. https://lnkd.in/dnA6Tvjy

The impression I get from this is contempt for adults.16 year olds have little or no idea of the World, they are (or should be) still in school. Emotional maturity often comes many years into adulthood, but there's a bare minimum to be an adult. Some academics suggest an age of 12... I can only assume they hold democracy and adults in equal contempt, except themselves of course Destroying the distinction between children and grown-ups betrays an authoritarian attitude. According a 16 year old the same status as a 50 year old, sends a clear signal that what voters think is worthless; they are there to be manipulated to make them 'vote the right way' It looks like Labour will continue their assault on the constitution, despite the damage caused by Blair when he introduced Positive Law into a country with centuries of Negative Law. The former comes from Napoleonic tradition, dominant in EU countries, where if law does not give you the right to do something, it's illegal. Negative law assumes all rights and freedoms, and only exists to curtail some with the objective of better exercise of those left intact. This mirrors Isiah Berlin's take on Positive and Negative Freedom The Human Rights Act combined with recognition of the European Court of Human Rights is concerned with Positive Law. When a Law is created, if judges deem it threatens Rights that make people free, the law is struck down. It follows, Positive Law exists to give permission and freedoms to people and, without it they would, a la Rousseau, be 'in chains'. In effect, The Human Rights Act and the ECHR are parts of a system of unwritten Law Positive Law assumes judges can do what should be done by democracy. But identifying human rights is notoriously difficult, conflicts and hierarchies inevitably develop. If Negative Law is found wanting, it is the job of democracy to strike it down or amend it, just as it is its duty to curtail freedoms and rights only to the extent that ensures all others are left free of legal restraint Positive law is popular with politicians who don't like democracy. It's much easier to lean on judges to whisk up some unwritten law, like a conjurer pulling a rabbit from a hat, than it is to sway a democratic assembly. Blair left us with a hybrid legal system using Positive and Negative law which led to democratically passed legislation being struck down by UK and ECHR judges. Positive and Negative systems have their problems, but combining them makes things far worse At least the Labour Party has yet to declare 16 year olds have a human right to a vote. But I sense inventing another right and / or exploiting a fashion to infantilise grown-ups arises from an intention to reduce democracy to a meaningless quadrille.Then those who know what's good for us can rule unaccountably A good way to destroy democracy is to give the vote to children. If politicians get away with this they shall go further, because we did not stop them.

The fight for civil rights in the United States has been a long and arduous journey, with the Supreme Court acting as a powerful but sometimes unpredictable force. This note explores the Court's role in shaping civil rights jurisprudence, highlighting landmark decisions and ongoing debates. The Court has delivered some of the most significant victories in the civil rights movement. In 1954's landmark Brown v. Board of Education, segregation in public schools was deemed unconstitutional, dismantling the racist "separate but equal" doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896). This decision ignited the modern civil rights movement. Subsequent rulings outlawed discriminatory practices in voting (Voting Rights Act of 1965), public accommodations (Civil Rights Act of 1964), and marriage (Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015). These decisions expanded rights and opportunities for millions of Americans. However, the Court's record isn't spotless. The infamous Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) decision denied citizenship to Black Americans, a stain on American history. More recently, rulings like Shelby County v. Holder (2013) weakened the Voting Rights Act, raising concerns about voter suppression. The composition of the Supreme Court significantly impacts its decisions. The current ideological makeup sparks debate about the future of civil rights jurisprudence. Will the Court continue to expand protections, or will it roll back past advancements? The Supreme Court's role in shaping civil rights is complex. It has been a crucial battleground for equality, but its path hasn't always been linear. As society evolves, the Court will continue to grapple with new challenges and questions surrounding civil rights. What are your thoughts? Should the Court be more activist in protecting civil rights, or should it defer more to the legislative branch? Share your insights in the comments below!

We've been very busy here at the ACLU Voting Rights Project, so a little behind in lifting up the good news out of Texas where a federal court ruled against a key provision of Texas’ anti-voter law Senate Bill 1 in a victory for voting rights in the state. And our clients League of Women Voters of Texas, Register, Educate, Vote, & Use your Power - Texas (REV UP Texas), and OCA Greater Houston. The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by ACLU ACLU of Texas, and our partners Texas Civil Rights Project Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and Disability Rights Texas, and Jenner & Block, challenged numerous provisions of the bill, including that its prohibition against certain interactions in the presence of a ballot violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments. This ruling comes after a six week trial last October. The state has announced plans to appeal at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to review the ruling and request a stay of the decision while the appeal plays out. This latest decision follows an August 2023 win in this case where the district court ruled that the mail-ballot ID-matching provisions of Senate Bill 1 violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The groups await the court’s findings on whether the same provisions of the law, as well as the bill’s expanded Oath of Assistance, violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, along with if S.B. 1’s limitations on compensated mail-voting assistance violate Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act. This decision also follows a separate and successful 2022 challenge to S.B. 1’s limitations on the type of assistance that may be rendered to Limited English speaking and disabled voters. https://lnkd.in/ey4Nkq7A

The Thirteenth Amendment to provide universal freedom. The Fourteenth Amendment to provide universal rights of citizenship. The Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments to provide universal voting rights regardless of race, color, or sex. The Founders distinguished between equal rights and other areas where equality is impossible. They recognized that society should seek to provide equal opportunity but not expect equal results; provide equal freedom but not expect equal capacity; provide equal rights but not equal possessions; provide equal protection but not equal status; provide equal educational opportunities but not equal grades. They knew that even if governmental compulsion were used to force its citizens to appear equal in material circumstances, they would immediately become unequal the instant their freedom was restored to them. As Alexander Hamilton said: "Inequality would exist as long as liberty existed.... It would unavoidably result from that very liberty itself." (Harold C. Syrett et al., eds., The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, 19 vols. by 1973, Columbia University Press, New York, 1961, 4:218.) Nevertheless, there are some who insist that people do not have equal rights unless they have "equal things." The Founding Fathers were well acquainted with this proposition and set forth their belief concerning it in the next principle. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.