U.S. Senate confirms voting rights advocate Perez to 2nd Circuit
In spite of GOP objections, the US Senate has confirmed voting rights advocate Myrna Perez as a judge on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, which is based in New York. Perez has served as the director of the voting rights and elections program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. She was confirmed by a vote of 48-43. Unlike the requirement for closing debate over legislation, closing debate over whether the Senate will confirm a nominee is
Voting rights advocates sue Texas again over GOP-drawn maps
Moments after Republican Governor Greg Abbot signed off on the Texas Legislature's newly-drawn congressional districts, voting rights advocates filed a lawsuit against the electoral maps in a federal court. Voto Latino and other advocacy groups are partnering with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, among others, to argue that the maps have been drawn not merely to advantage the Republican party, but to dilute the voting power of communities of color within the state. Texas was the only state to gain two additional congressional
Lawmakers will explore restoring voting rights for people convicted of felonies
A judiciary committee within Mississippi’s House has begun to take another look at the state’s policy of disenfranchising citizens convicted of certain felonies. Unlike any other state, it is Mississippi’s legislature (not its Governor) who generally decides, on a case-by-case basis, whether a convicted felon’s voting rights will be restored. The restoration of a single citizen’s voting rights in the legislature requires two-thirds supermajorities in its favor from both chambers. The Governor of Mississippi may also pardon a felon, but that has been very
Navajo president backs bill to protect Native American voting rights
Jonathan Nez, President of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee to advocate for The Native American Voting Rights Act. The bill contains a number of voter access and protection requirements for Native American reservations in the United States. Provisions in the bill include minimum requirements for early voting and mail-in ballots, as well as stronger limits on when polling places can be eliminated. Senator Ted Cruz expressed skepticism about the bill, saying it “would expand voter fraud rather than combat it.” Visit
Nevada Man Who Claimed Someone Voted As His Dead Wife Charged With Voter Fraud
Donald Kirk Hartle has been charged with casting an illegal vote under the name of his deceased wife. Previously, Mr. Hartle had claimed to have discovered that someone else had voted under his departed wife’s name, and his case was touted by Republicans as an example of voter fraud in the 2020 election. However, Nevada prosecutors are now alleging that Hartle submitted the fraudulent vote himself. Nevada’s Attorney General Aaron Ford has said, “Voter fraud is rare, but when it happens it undercuts trust