voting rights

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp has declared victory in a closely-fought race with Democrat Stacey Abrams that included accusations he abused his office to win the election.

Politics & Government

In Georgia, Kemp Claims Victory, But Won't Oversee Potential Recount

3:56pm November 08, 2018

by Susanna Capelouto

The Republican announced he would resign as secretary of state on Thursday after a lawsuit was filed calling it a conflict of interest for him to oversee the vote count in the governor's race.

North Carolina will join Virginia and 17 other states that require voters to show a photo ID to vote. A sign notifies voters that a photo ID is required at the Clarke County Schools office polling location in Berryville, Va., on Nov. 6, 2018.

Voters Approve Major Changes To Redistricting And Other Voting Laws

3:40am November 07, 2018

by Miles Parks

Lawmakers in at least three states will have less power to draw political boundaries, while automatic and same-day voter registration is coming in other places. New voter ID laws also got approved.

Jessica Jones (center) speaks to people gathered around the Ben & Jerry's "Yes on 4" Truck about Florida's Amendment 4 initiative at Charles Hadley Park in Miami, on Oct. 22. Amendment 4 asked voters to restore the voting rights of people with past felony

Politics & Government

Over 1 Million Florida Felons Win Right To Vote With Amendment 4

3:38am November 07, 2018

by Tim Mak

The state approved a key ballot initiative that will restore voting rights to citizens who have served sentences for certain crimes.

Gaston County Elections Director Adam Ragan tests equipment.

Early Voting Changes In North Carolina Spark Bipartisan Controversy

3:06pm October 17, 2018

by Alexandra Olgin

At a time when early voting is becoming increasingly popular nationwide, a new law passed by North Carolina's GOP-controlled legislature cuts early voting sites by nearly 20 percent.

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More than 150,000 Floridians had their voting rights restored during former Gov. Charlie Crist's four years in office. In the seven years since then, current Gov. Rick Scott has approved restoring voting rights to just over 3,000 people.

Felons In Florida Want Their Voting Rights Back Without A Hassle

11:06am July 05, 2018

by Greg Allen

One of out every 10 adults in Florida is not eligible to vote because of a state law that prevents former felons from doing so without a lengthy process. There are efforts underway to change that.

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People wait in line to enter the U.S. Supreme Court, on April 23, 2018. There's less than a month left in the Court's term and many of the most controversial and contentious cases will be decided in the coming weeks.

From Travel Ban To Political Pins: Pending Decisions From The Supreme Court

3:46pm June 03, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

On Monday morning, the Supreme Court might release opinions in a number of significant cases, from gerrymandering challenges to religious rights disputes. We've got a roundup of the possibilities.

A dozen states have moved or are moving to automatic voting registration.

Politics & Government

Reducing Voters' Paperwork Might Expand The Voter Rolls

6:06am April 19, 2018

by Mary Plummer

By next year, more than a quarter of all Americans will live in states where they no longer have to fill out registration forms in order to cast a ballot.

Signs sit behind the podium before the start of a press conference in New York City about the multi-state lawsuit to block the Trump administration from adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 census form.

House To Hold Hearing On Controversial Census Citizenship Question

9:39pm April 11, 2018

by Hansi Lo Wang

Officials from the Census Bureau and Commerce Department are set to testify in May about 2020 census which will ask if respondents are citizens, a question which has sparked lawsuits.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott at a news conference in May in Miami. A decision by a federal judge to strike down the state's procedure for restoring voting rights to felons who have served their time is seen as a defeat for the governor.

Voting Rights Process For Florida Felons Unconstitutional, Judge Says

4:04am February 02, 2018

by Scott Neuman

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker says a state panel that is the gatekeeper for the restoration of voting rights to felons who served their time is unconstitutional.

Florida law permanently strips felons of the right to vote and other civil rights, including serving on a jury, running for public office and sitting for the state bar exam.

In Florida, Felons Want Voting Rights Back As Soon As They Complete Their Sentences

1:19pm October 21, 2017

by Renata Sago

Thousands of petitions are circulating across the state in an unprecedented grass-roots campaign to restore voting rights to almost 1.7 million people.