Press Releases
Study Exposes Lack of Standards for Appointing Defense Counsel
This report covers unfair practices in effect in states including Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, and Nebraska, and highlights best practices in others, like Massachusetts, Washington, and Vermont. People are often wrongly denied defense counsel, violating 6th Amendment.
– 09/16/08
Petition for Certorari Filed in al-Marri Case
Petition warns that leaving the decision standing could “displace the constitutional protections of the criminal justice system,” based on a mere allegation of a connection to possible terrorist activity, unless the Supreme Court acts
– 09/16/08
Misleading VA Board of Elections Website Could Deter Student Voters
Misleading information on its website that could deter thousands of eligible voting age students from registering and voting in Virginia in the 2008 election. Voting rights advocates urge Secretary Rodrigues to modify student residency questionnaire.
– 09/16/08
Mississippi Ballot Will Disenfranchise Hundreds of Thousands of Voters
Letter sent to officials in Mississippi sharply criticizes the design of a ballot for the 2008 election.
– 09/12/08
Buying Time—2008
Analysis of judicial races earlier this year shows that interest group targeting and big money court-campaigns remain deeply entrenched, despite the fact that campaigns may not be flooded with excessive spending.
– 09/11/08
New Voter Guide Explains Rights of Student Voters
With thousands of young and new voters expected to participate in the 2008 election, the Center launches an online legal guide to student voting to arm student with the information they need to navigate voting and registration.
– 09/10/08
Ad Campaign Launched to Help NYers with Criminal Records Vote in ‘08
Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx buses to feature posters from voting rights groups.
– 09/10/08
Ad Campaign Launch to Help NYers with Criminal Records Vote in ‘08
Campaign will feature nearly 1,000 ads in public buses in New York City, as well as train advertisements, radio PSAs, a voting rights toolkit, a comprehensive web site, and a series of web videos.
– 09/10/08
Florida To Enforce Restrictive No-Match No-Vote
Today voting rights advocates expressed alarm over the Secretary of State’s September 8th decision to enforce the state’s “no-match, no-vote” law, a voter registration law that previously blocked more than 16,000 eligible Florida citizens from registering to vote, through no fault of their own, and could disenfranchise tens of thousands more voters in November.
– 09/09/08
Advocates Urge Wisconsin to Avoid Error-laden Matching Practice in Voter Registration Law
The Brennan Center sent the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board a letter urging the state not to adopt a “no match, no vote” policy that would prevent eligible voters from casting regular ballots if the state cannot match their applications with other government databases.
– 08/25/08