Impact of 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling on Voting Rights Enforcement

A panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a key way of enforcing the federal Voting Rights Act in seven Midwestern states by ruling that Section 2 cannot be enforced by private parties under a separate federal statute. This decision impacts the ability of individuals and groups to challenge redistricting plans that may limit voting rights for communities of color.

Alabama Election

Voters in Alabama participate in the first election following federal court ruling that the state's map violated the Voting Rights Act.

Impact of Shelby County v. Holder Decision on Voter Turnout Disparities

A new study shows that the turnout gap between white and nonwhite voters in the U.S. is growing fastest in areas that were stripped of federal voting protections by a Supreme Court decision in 2013, which allowed states to pass laws making voting difficult for people of color.