If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Supreme Court this week halted Arizona's attempt to thwart the will of Congress when it established national norms for voter registration in federal elections with the National Voter Registration Act of 1995.
Before assuming that Justice Scalia is a recent convert to voting rights protections, recognize that language in today's opinion could eventually undermine voting rights. The details of the opinion could empower state and local partisans who manipulate voting rules.
The future of Texas will not be found in voices who prefer a Texas in which Hispanics are second-class citizens when they seek to vote and women are second class citizens when they seek to live their lives as they choose and seek a good job and a fair wage.
We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the legions of women who led the fight, many of whom were considered extreme radicals at the time. Most suffragists first fought on behalf of other causes.
In cases involving an act of Congress, such as the Voting Rights Act, the Court pays great deference to findings of facts by Congress. Congress is, after all, the peoples' elected representatives; and, it can be changed.
The path of a trailblazer always holds resistance. To pioneer meaningful change, one must be prepared to defend themself against the inevitable opposing force. One man who has come to know this all too well lately is U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Justice Kennedy has the opportunity to lead the Court and to show he is attuned to the social issues in our country and the deep division on the Court when it comes to issues of race. Will he seize the moment?
The last round of reapportionment in Alaska didn't meet any rational smell check. The heavily right-leaning redistricting board focused on pitting political rivals against each other and erected new obstacles for left-leaning candidates and incumbents in their home districts.
All I see is my screen go blank, after which I deposit my card with some church volunteers who place it on an open stack and hand me an "I Voted" sticker. Did I really?, I now wonder.
Unaccounted in the Census Bureau estimates are the 5.8 million adults who are ineligible to vote due to a current or previous felony conviction.
We should not place unnecessary barriers between a voter and her ballot. Unfortunately in recent years, state governments across our country have renewed the push to enact barriers.
The major impact of the law has been to prevent many non-Latino citizens -- most likely the elderly, the young, and others less likely to have the requisite documents readily at hand -- from registering.
There is no doubt that the opportunity to re-elect America's first black president contributed to record black turnout last year. But, no matter who is on the ballot in 2014 and 2016, we must continue to exercise our voice. We must continue to exercise our vote.
Almost 16 million Americans have registered or re-registered every year under National Voter Registration Act provisions. Many people today don't remember a time when they couldn't register at their local DMV. Yet, there is work to be done.
Some states continue to push needless restrictions on the ability of citizens to participate in elections, and voters and their advocates must remain vigilant against any such efforts. Still, the trend is unmistakable: After years of backsliding, states are embracing free, fair, and accessible elections.
