VOTING RIGHTS
Improving Access to Voting
SCSJ focuses on ensuring access to the ballot and monitoring initiatives aimed at limiting that access.
Given the sharp increase in anti-democratic partisan entrenchment and voter suppression efforts, SCSJ plans to experiment with and evaluate new and innovative strategies to preemptively advance voting rights through advocacy, organizing, and communications. For example, identifying and advocating for administrative changes permitted by state law that make voting more efficient and accessible is increasingly important given the barriers that legislatures are placing on voting across the South. SCSJ's novel approaches to impact litigation and reframing of key voting rights issues have changed the discourse about voting rights.
Election Protection Efforts
We firmly believe that election protection and administration work must be year-round efforts every year, not just in federal election years. Maintaining this continuity makes it easier to identify and respond to voting problems early, create a network of engaged advocates, and build a better record for litigation. The ultimate goal is to specifically ensure that voters of color, historically disenfranchised voters, and, more generally, all voters in the South can elect their preferred candidates freely and safely.
SCSJ’s approach to election administration and protection ensures full access to the ballot and dismantles barriers to the vote. Barriers in the South include:
- requiring photo ID at the polls,
- restricting voter registration,
- limiting or cutting election budgets, and
- otherwise discouraging and disenfranchising voters.
In addition to providing county-by-county training to advocate for better election funding, more early voting options, and to count every vote, SCSJ lends legal support to previously incarcerated voters and others who might be targets for disenfranchisement.
SCSJ’s election administration work and policy advocacy focuses on protecting access to the ballot and monitoring legislative initiatives aimed at requiring photo ID at the polls, restricting voter registration, or otherwise disenfranchising voters. In addition to trainings on advocating for more early voting sites, SCSJ has provided legal support to enforce the voting rights of people with felony convictions or misdemeanors who are in jail or prison.
SCSJ strives to link claims for equitable representation with claims for fuller participation by all people. For example, voter ID requirements hinder effective participation by numerous groups, including young people, the elderly, and people with disabilities. We also provide zealous advocacy in the redistricting process to ensure the fair and full participation of all voters. By demystifying the political and legal processes around redistricting, and providing models for more inclusive democratic structures, we hope to generate broader policy reforms that improve the democratic process overall.
"Elections are designed to ensure self-determination for our communities — to decide how we equitably decide representation and resources."
Election Administration & Protection Resources
2020 Election Protection Report
North Carolinians — particularly our Black and Brown neighbors — have always faced an evolving array of barriers that prevented them from exercising their freedom to vote.
Election Administration & Protection News
Statement from the Voting Rights Working Group: Civil Rights Organizations Stand Ready to Protect and Support Voters During the 2024 General Election Cycle
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 30, 2024) — With the 2024 general elections well underway, we are working to ensure voters can cast their ballots and that every vote is counted. The Voting Rights Working Group hopes the trend of historic turnout by voters seen in recent elections continues, despite increased efforts in many states to suppress voters. The…
Read More Statement from the Voting Rights Working Group: Civil Rights Organizations Stand Ready to Protect and Support Voters During the 2024 General Election Cycle
Military Voting Rights Groups Applaud N.C. Court’s Order Protecting Overseas Voters
The case stems from RNC’s attempt to question voting eligibility of some overseas voters. DURHAM, N.C. (Oct. 30, 2024) – Two nonpartisan groups focused on the voting rights of military-connected individuals, Secure Families Initiatives and Count Every Hero, applauded a North Carolina appellate decision to protect overseas voters. The N.C. Court of Appeals’ decision in…
Read More Military Voting Rights Groups Applaud N.C. Court’s Order Protecting Overseas Voters