Fourth Circuit: N.C. Voter ID Law Targets Blacks with “Surgical Precision”

Fourth Circuit: N.C. Voter ID Law Targets Blacks with “Surgical Precision”

By EditorAug 01, 2016
North Carolina - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit has overturned the lower court ruling that had upheld North Carolina's comprehensive voter identification requirements.  The panel commented that this law targeted African-American voters with "surgical precision." http://www.nbcnews.com/widget/video-embed/735007299516 Read the court opinion here. Read more in the Washington Post. Read more in the New York Times.
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Unpacking the Texas Voter ID Decision

By EditorJul 27, 2016
Philadelphia, Pa. -  Lyle Denniston of The Nation Constitution Center in Philadelphia writes this thorough review of the Circuit Court's decision in Veasey et al. v. Abbott, which significantly modifies implementation of Texas' voter ID law.  It was a 203 page opinion, Denniston details the reasoning of the plurality, concurrences and the dissent. Read more here.
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Meet the Man Behind the Texas Voter ID Lawsuit

Meet the Man Behind the Texas Voter ID Lawsuit

By EditorJul 26, 2016
Texas - U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey was a state legislator in Texas when that body passed a comprehensive Voter Identification law.  He had misgivings after witnessing the legislative debate and eventually sued.  North Texas public radio's Rick Holter sat down with Veasey, who represents Texas' 33rd congressional district, to discuss what brought him to sue and whether he thinks the recent Fifth Circuit ruling will relieve the harms he says it causes to some voters. Listen below.  
Redistricting, Redistricting Litigation, Redistricting Race Rules,
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Texas Appeals Court Rejects Voter ID Law. Sort of

Texas Appeals Court Rejects Voter ID Law. Sort of

By EditorJul 25, 2016
Texas - This Wednesday the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a major blow to the 2011 Texas Voter ID law which has been in effect now since 2013.  The main legal challenge against this law, which specifies 7 types of photo identification that must be used to register and vote - has been that it violates the Voting Right Act both because it was passed by the legislature with an intent to discriminate against poor and minority voters and because in practice, it has a discriminatory effect on those groups. With respect to the discriminatory effect claim, the…
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Virginia Mistakenly Restored Voting Rights to “Worst Sexual Predators”

Virginia Mistakenly Restored Voting Rights to “Worst Sexual Predators”

By EditorJun 23, 2016
Virginia - Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe’s April restoration of voting rights to felons that have completed their full sentence, hit a snafu last week when it was discovered that a small group of "ineligible" people had been inadvertently put on the list of eligible voters; Sex offenders who have been civilly committed to a treatment facility. Read more at triblive.
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North Carolina Voter ID Law On Appeal

North Carolina Voter ID Law On Appeal

By EditorJun 21, 2016
North Carolina - The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled oral argument this week on the challenge to the state's Voter Identification requirement for registering to vote.  The 2013 changes in the law include: a photo identification requirement a reduced early voting period elimination of same-day registration during the early voting period; and disqualification of ballots cast in the wrong voting precinct. A preliminary injunction is temporarily allowing out-of-precinct voting and same-day registration pending a court decision. Read more at WRAL.com.
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Advocacy Groups in Wisconsin Want A Court Order Allowing Voters Without ID To Vote

Advocacy Groups in Wisconsin Want A Court Order Allowing Voters Without ID To Vote

By EditorJun 15, 2016
Madison, Wisconsin - A 2011 voter identification law is still tied up in court, even after clearing at least one challenge in federal court.  Civil rights and voter's groups are still aiming for the law however, and have requested the court to issue a temporary order that would allow voters without the proper to identification, to vote in the upcoming elections. The law at issue requires the following types of identification to cast a vote at the polls in Wisconsin: Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card; a U.S. passport, military ID card; a college ID meeting certain requirements; a…
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Several Ohio Election Administration Practices Invalidated by Courts

Several Ohio Election Administration Practices Invalidated by Courts

By EditorJun 10, 2016
Ohio - A federal judge blocked several restrictions on the casting and counting of absentee ballots instituted by the Republican Secretary of State.  This is the second defeat to GOP-backed voting restrictions in the state in the last two weeks. GOP voting procedures have been rebuffed on constitutional grounds by both Democrat and Republican judges.  Officials still plan to appeal. Read more in the Columbus Dispatch. Another federal judge restored the state's elimination of a specific time period that eligible voters could register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day. A shortened early voting period was also restored. Read more in…
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