Expert Brief

A majority of voters in the Deep South disagree with their states’ extreme restrictions, highlighting the disconnect between the public and the legislators who represent them.

Safeguards must address not only public releases but also risky uses of advanced models behind closed doors.

Expansive voting laws continue to outpace restrictive laws, but some voters will face new hurdles.

The government must evaluate systemic failures with an eye toward establishing meaningful regulation. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the federal government spent billions of dollars shoring up state and local budgets and funding new public safety initiatives.

Grant cancellations, staff reductions, and other policy changes far overstep the president’s authority while limiting FEMA’s ability to respond to disasters.

Across the United States, states have shown little progress with respect to racial, ethnic, gender, and professional diversity among state supreme court justices. 

Census data shows profound demographic changes taking place across the South.

Fueled by a budget boom, the Department of Homeland Security is expanding its technological arsenal, with little oversight or transparency around how these tools are used.

Any deployment that intimidates voters or interferes with elections would be illegal. Should one occur, officials and civil society are prepared to challenge illegal acts so that voting can proceed uninterrupted.