Other Voter List Issues
Although many barriers to voting—like property requirements, literacy tests, and poll taxes—are no longer constitutional, for many eligible citizens, voter registration continues to be a significant obstacle. More than a quarter of voting-age Americans are not registered and thus cannot vote. The Brennan Center works to promote fair voter registration and voter list policies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and are not unduly barred by administrative and other barriers.
Common Cause of Colorado, et al. v. Buescher
A coalition of voting rights groups sued the Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman (who, upon leaving office, was replaced by Brian Buescher) claiming he illegally removed over 27,000 voters from the rolls. They filed a temporary restraining order to get those names reinstated and to ensure additional names cannot be removed before Election Day.
Van Hollen v. Government Accountability Board
Wisconsin AG, J.B. Van Hollen, claims the state’s Government Accountability Board(GAB) is incompliant with HAVA by not retroactively running database matches and purging voters from registration rolls.
A lawsuit filled by the Brennan Center and other voting rights advocates challenging Florida’s requirement that the driver’s license or Social Security number on a registration form be verified before a voter can be registered to vote.
NM: Scant Evidence of Fraud, But Plenty of Voter Registration Glitches
New Mexico Secretary of State Diana Duran has released another report that, rhetoric aside, doesn't put forward any clear evidence of fraud. However, the report does show areas where Sec. Duran needs to improve the state's management of voter registration.
Welcome Developments in Colorado
On Friday, a Colorado court denied Secretary of State Scott Gessler’s request for an injunction, allowing Denver to send mail ballots to all registered Denver voters without interference from the Secretary of State’s office.
Honoring Justice Brennan’s Legacy
Yesterday, at a ceremony presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts, the U.S. Postal Service issued a series of new stamps honoring the most influential Supreme Court Justices, among them Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. The stamp commemorating Justice Brennan is a welcome and well-deserved tribute; it’s impossible to name any judges who cared about our democracy more than Justice Brennan did.
Illustrations by Risko
New Ohio Election Bill Draws on Bipartisan Summit and Conference for Reforms to Ohio Election Law
Secretary Jennifer Brunner, Representatives Dan Stewart and Tracy Maxwell Heard introduced the Ohio Election Enhancements Bill. Drawn from the historic 2008 and 2009 election summits called by Secretary Brunner and chaired by the Brennan Center’s Lawrence Norden, the bill offers many reforms for Ohio’s Election System.
Problems that disadvantage military voters can be fixed by modernizing voter registration, new studies find.
Detailed Reports Offer Guidelines for Permanent Voter Registration
Today, two new studies on voter registration for Americans who move show both the feasibility and need to modernize the voter registration system. Tens of millions of Americans move every year, and permanent registration throughout all states would dramatically increase voter participation by millions.
Advocacy: Letters to Election Officials
The Brennan Center submitted letters to state election officials in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, urging them to issue directives and instructions against illegal or improper conduct in anticipation of the 2010 election.
Testimony Before the New York City Council Committee on Governmental Operations
Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Governmental Operations regarding Board of Elections oversight, specifically concerning New York’s new voting machines and Board voter registration and list maintenance practices.
Adam Skaggs before the Illinois House of Representatives
Testimony on legislative trends in election administration delivered before the House Elections Committee.
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.
Voter Suppression Incidents 2008
A list of voter suppression incidents from the 2008 election.
CNN Voter Purges | Wendy Weiser
Wendy Weiser appears on segement in which CNN’s Abbie Boudreau looks into allegations of voter purges.