https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/restricting-vote
Restricting the Vote
For nearly a decade, Americans have experienced a high-pitched and often highly partisan battle over their right to vote. State lawmakers passed a wave of laws — including strict photo ID requirements, early voting cutbacks, and registration restrictions — making it harder for many citizens to vote. Following the 2016 election, President Donald Trump falsely claimed millions voted illegally, perpetuating the myth of fraud long used to justify restrictive legislation.
The Brennan Center is the nation's leading organization tracking the fight to vote. With other allies and advocates, we have been instrumental in pushing back — in the media, legislatures, at the ballot box, and the courts.
The Brennan Center continually tracks election changes in the states and provides national context and commentary on the legislative movement to restrict voting.
Representing civil rights groups, Center attorneys have helped win court rulings to block harsh voter ID laws and voter registration restrictions, which could have made it harder for hundreds of thousands to cast ballots.
We led an extensive public opinion research project on attitudes toward voting. Hundreds of organizations have used this cutting edge research to help win victories nationwide.
The national struggle over voting rights is the greatest in decades. The Brennan Center will continue to fight restrictive voting laws to safeguard our fundamental right to vote.
Recent Research
Purges: A Growing Threat to the Right to Vote
Jonathan Brater, Kevin Morris, Myrna Pérez, Christopher Deluzio
Voter purges are an often-flawed process of cleaning up voter rolls by deleting names from registration lists. Done badly, they can prevent eligible people from casting a ballot that counts. This report examines the growing threat, and outlines steps every state can take to protect voters in November and beyond.
July 20, 2018Voting Rights & ElectionsVoting Reform AgendaRestricting the VoteMyth of Voter FraudDisbanded: Trump’s “Voter Fraud” CommissionThe Voting Rights ActVoting Machines & Ballot Design
Democracy: An Election Agenda for Candidates, Activists, and Legislators
Wendy R. Weiser, Alicia Bannon
In fundamental ways, our democratic systems urgently need repair. This volume sets out slate of bold policy proposal to move democracy reform to the center of our politics, where it belongs
May 4, 2018Voting Rights & ElectionsVoting Reform AgendaVoter Registration ModernizationRestricting the VoteMyth of Voter FraudDisbanded: Trump’s “Voter Fraud” CommissionRestoring Voting RightsVoting Machines & Ballot DesignRedistricting2020 CENSUSGerrymandering at the Supreme CourtOther Voting IssuesSecuring American Elections From Foreign InterferenceMoney in PoliticsA New Constitutional VisionElection SpendingDisclosurePublic FinancingGovernment & Court ReformFair CourtsGovernment DysfunctionChecks & Balances
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Recent Commentary
North Carolina’s Election Fiasco Is About Voter Suppression, Not Voter Fraud
Kevin Morris, Myrna Pérez
Making voting harder would only make the problem worse
December 6, 2018Voting Rights & ElectionsRestricting the Vote
Senate to Vote on Trump Judicial Nominee Who Defended Voter Suppression
Tim Lau
Thomas Farr defended law that targeted black voters with “almost surgical precision”
November 27, 2018Restricting the Vote
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Recent Litigation
Texas NAACP v. Steen (consolidated with Veasey v. Abbott)
The Brennan Center and co-counsel filed suit in federal court challenging Texas's strict photo voter ID law on behalf of the Texas State Conference of the NAACP and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives (MALC).
September 21, 2018Voting Rights & ElectionsRestricting the VoteMyth of Voter FraudThe Voting Rights Act
Indiana NAACP and League of Women Voters of Indiana v. Lawson
The Brennan Center filed a lawsuit against the State of Indiana on behalf of the Indiana NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Indiana, challenging a recently enacted law, Senate Bill 442, which violates the National Voter Registration Act’s protections against wrongful voter removals.
June 12, 2018Voting Rights & ElectionsRestricting the VoteOther Voting Issues