Analysis & Commentary
Voting Rights & Elections
“Citizens Without Proof” Stands Strong
A 2006 national survey commissioned by the Brennan Center found that as many as 11% of voting-age adults – millions of Americans – did not have a current and valid government-issued photo ID. This is a troubling statistic for advocates of strict photo ID policies. Hans von Spakovsky and Alex Ingram of the Heritage Foundation recently published a memo attacking our study and this widely-cited, independently confirmed statistic. This document contains details on our study and explains why their attacks are baseless.
Authored by: Wendy Weiser, Keesha Gaskins, & Sundeep Iyer
– 09/08/11
Research and Publications on Voter ID
Social science research on the impact voter identification restrictions.
– 08/10/11
Voter ID Laws Passed in 2011
Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin all passed new voter ID laws in their 2011 legislative sessions. We've compiled their vital details on each new law in this document.
Authored by: The Brennan Center Voting Rights and Elections Project
– 08/08/11
Voting Rights in 2011: A Legislative Round-Up
As the 2012 election approaches, a massive crackdown on voting rights is unfolding – the most significant such assault in decades. Millions of Americans risk disenfranchisement, blocked from casting ballots or having them count.
Authored by: Wendy Weiser and Nhu-Y Ngo
– 07/15/11
An Attack on Elections With Broad Implications
Reasonable people can debate the wisdom of voting to oust elected representatives before their terms are up – or the merits of rethinking the rules that govern public-sector unions. But there is no way to defend the one-two move to destroy a crucial safeguard of judicial integrity while burdening the right to vote.
Authored by: Mimi Marziani
– 06/04/11
Voter ID Legislation in the States
This legislative session, at least 38 states are considering or have considered some type of voter ID and/or proof of citizenship legislation. This document lists the status of each voter ID bill under consideration.
Authored by: Nhu-Y Ngo & Keesha Gaskins
– 03/22/11
Secrecy, Fear, and the National Security State: A lecture on American democracy
Fritz Schwarz delivered a lecture entitled "The National Security State and Other Dangers to Democracy" on November 11, 2010, at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies at the Free University of Berlin.
"Crisis and its cousin fear always make it tempting to ignore the wise restraints that keep us free. That is not new. But America has been living in an atmosphere of crisis for an unusally long time."
Authored by: Frederick A.O. "Fritz" Schwarz, Jr.
– 11/22/10
Voting Challenges 2010 - Media Webinar
On October 27, 2010, the Brennan Center presented a webinar on challenges to the 2010 vote for the media. The presentation is updated from an October 13, 2010, briefing at the National Press Club.
Authored by: Voting Rights and Elections Team
– 10/27/10
Presentations on Voting Rights
Each year, the Brennan Center hosts briefings and delivers presentations on annual trends in voting rights. On this page you can access and download each presentation we have delivered.
Authored by: Voting Rights and Elections Team
– 10/22/10
“Ballot Security” Operations
The Brennan Center for Justice is compiling media coverage of threatened "ballot security" operations in 2010.
– 10/20/10