Press Releases
Study: Public Financing Contributes to Greater Diversity of Participation in NYC Elections
A new report jointly released today by the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law and the Campaign Finance Institute of Washington DC offers powerful evidence that New York City's public financing system has contributed to a fundamental change in the relationship between candidates and their donors. With the program in place, there has been a dramatic increase in the number and diversity of the city’s residents who participate in the process.
– 05/14/12
Poll: Super PACs Leave Americans Less Likely to Vote
A new national poll finds that the outsized spending of super PACs and other groups in the 2012 election cycle has given rise to significant, bipartisan fears of corruption and heightened distrust in government. The poll also finds that one in four Americans are less likely to vote this year due to fears that candidates cater to the interests of super PAC donors over the public interest.
– 04/24/12
New Setbacks for Voting Rights Restrictions..And Yet
Today's news that a prominent backer of voter ID laws is responding to growing public opposition and no longer focusing resources on elections or social policy is a welcome announcement. Yet the right to vote for millions of Americans is more threatened now than it has been in decades, and the numerous new voter ID policies are just one part.
– 04/17/12
Wisconsin Supreme Court Declines Voter ID Appeal
The Wisconsin Supreme Court today refused to take up the appeals of rulings blocking the state's controversial voter ID law. The law, passed by the Wisconsin legislature and signed by Governor Scott Walker, was blocked last month by two Dane County Circuit Court judges.
– 04/16/12
Brennan Center Opposes Minnesota Voter ID Amendment
Voter ID will officially be on the ballot this fall in Minnesota, after the Senate passed the measure this afternoon. Read a statement from the Brennan Center's Keesha Gaskins.
– 04/04/12
Brennan Center Submits Testimony in Support of DISCLOSE Act of 2012, Urges More Election Reforms
In advance of a Senate Rules Committee hearing on the DISCLOSE Act of 2012, the Brennan Center for Justice submitted written testimony supporting the measure, which would bring much-needed transparency to elections.
– 03/29/12
Supreme Court Should Uphold Montana Campaign Finance Law, Revisit Citizens United
The Brennan Center released the following statement from Senior Counsel Adam Skaggs urging the Supreme Court to uphold Montana's campaign finance law and revisit Citizens United.
– 03/27/12
League of Women Voters of South Carolina Urge Court to Reject Restrictive Voter ID Law
The League of Women Voters of South Carolina urged a federal district court to reject the state’s restrictive voter ID law, arguing the law erects unnecessary barriers to voting and could disenfranchise thousands of minority voters.
– 03/27/12
Senate Must Pass DISCLOSE Act
U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Charles Schumer, Patrick Leahy and several other Senators will introduce the DISCLOSE 2012 Act in the Senate today. The Brennan Center released the following statement from Senior Counsel Adam Skaggs in support of the bill.
– 03/21/12
Law Ending Prison-Based Gerrymandering Stands
Plaintiffs in the Little v. LATFOR case dropped their challenge of the state law ending prison-based gerrymandering.
– 03/16/12