State of Play: Voter Suppression Bills in the Wake of the 2020 Election

Voting rights are under full assault across the country. In response to unprecedented turnout and post-election turmoil, state legislatures from Georgia to Utah to Iowa have moved quickly to enact laws restricting access to the ballot box, with Texas, Florida, and several other states following right behind. At the same time, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act continue to make their way through Congress as progressives hope to bring sweeping election reforms to repair some of the damage being done at the state level. How would these federal pieces of legislation interact with the recent spate of suppressive state laws? Are we moving to an American society where one's ability to vote is fully dependent on geography? Given the recent conservative shift of the federal courts, what is the best path forward in protecting voting rights?

Opening Remarks:

Lindsay Langholz, Director of Policy and Program, American Constitution Society

Featuring:

Garrett Epps, Legal Affairs Editor, Washington Monthly, Moderator

Atiba Ellis, Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School

Edgar Saldivar, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU of Texas

Nick Warren, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Florida Poy Winichakul, Staff Attorney, Southern Poverty Law Center