Voting Rights Act

House passes bill to restore key parts of Voting Rights Act

By Matthew Daly, Associated Press

The bill would amend the 1965 law to impose new obligations on states and local jurisdictions, essentially reversing a 2013 Supreme Court decision.

Harris says changes to state abortion laws should require federal approval

By Juana Summers, Associated Press

The presidential candidate said she would back legislation requiring states with a history of restricting abortion rights to receive clearance from the Justice Department to change abortion laws.

Georgia county scraps widely condemned plan to close most polling places

By Brinley Hineman, Associated Press

Voting and civil rights groups applauded the decision but said the episode demonstrates the need to restore Voting Rights Act protections that were tossed out by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013.

Michelle Obama announces week of action to sign up voters

By Ashley Thomas, Associated Press

Michelle Obama is marking the 53rd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by urging Americans to participate in a week of action to get people signed up to vote.

Republican state lawmakers push for restrictions on voting

By Kathleen Ronayne, Associated Press

Lawmakers in at least 20 mostly Republican-led states are pushing to make it harder to register or to vote.

Electoral College is 'vestige' of slavery, say some Constitutional scholars

By Kamala Kelkar

A lesser-known part of the Electoral College's history: its relationship to slavery in the U.S.

New voter ID rules, other election changes could cause confusion

By Rebecca Beitsch, Stateline

New voter ID requirements, early voting schedules and voter registration rules in more than a dozen states are creating uncertainty that could dampen turnout.

U.S. Justice Department to dispatch fewer election observers

By Eric Tucker, Associated Press

The reduction is likely to diminish the Justice Department's ability to detect voter intimidation and other potential problems at the polls.

North Carolina voter ID law overturned for 'racially discriminatory intent'

By Courtney Norris

A federal appeals court, comprised of three Democratic appointees, ruled Friday that recent changes to North Carolina’s voting law by the state's Republican-controlled government violated the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act.

Supreme Court to review whether North Carolina relied too heavily on race in redistricting

By Jonathan Drew, Associated Press

The Supreme Court agreed to decide whether Republican lawmakers relied too heavily on race when they redrew North Carolina's congressional districts to give the GOP a powerful advantage in the swing state.