Voting Access
Groups release ‘Black Values Survey’ with in-depth look at African-Americans in swing states
Three nonprofits earlier this month released findings of a study that analyzes segments or values clusters within the Black community in three swing states that goes deeper than typical demographics. The research in Michigan, Georgia and Pennsylvania was not conducted in support of any candidate. Results of a national, four-year project to study the Black […]
‘Voting feels like a battle’: A group of Black women reimagines voter turnout
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The training in northwest Mississippi that Cassandra Welchlin led was focused on get-out-the-vote efforts, but the longtime community organizer wanted to make space to sing. Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around, turn me around … “Come on, y’all!” Welchlin told the crowd of nearly 100, who joined in on the next […]
Congressional Democrats, civil rights leaders call for changes in the Senate filibuster
WASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers and a coalition of civil rights leaders Tuesday urged Congress to reform the filibuster in order to pass voting rights legislation. “Voting rights, succinctly put, are preservative of all other rights,” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat, said at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol. Warnock was joined by […]
Gov. Landry targets ‘noncitizens’ in Louisiana, claiming immigrants pose voter fraud risk
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called a news conference Monday to publicize his signing of an executive order that will monitor “noncitizens” in the state and discourage them from trying to register to vote. His action follows a trend from other conservative Republicans who allege, without firm proof, that noncitizens will try to vote illegally in […]
Secretary of State issues guidance on new voter registration drive law
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry has released guidance on a new law that requires organizers to register with her office before conducting a voter registration drive. House Bill 506, sponsored by Rep. Polly Thomas, R-Metairie, takes effect Thursday and mandates that anyone wishing to conduct a voter registration drive sign up with the Secretary […]
Questions remain about new election laws that take effect this week
A slate of new Louisiana election laws set to take effect Thursday could disenfranchise voters and be used to levy unfounded allegations of fraud, voter advocacy groups say. Earlier this year the state’s GOP-dominated Legislature passed several laws at the behest of new Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry, who is also a Republican. Bill […]
With 2024 campaign growing intense, watchdogs warn of election threats
Voter intimidation, an exodus of election workers fed up with harassment and continued misinformation and disinformation campaigns threaten the integrity of the November elections, members of the government watchdog group Common Cause said Tuesday. This year will be the first presidential election since “the big lie,” Common Cause President Virginia Kase Solomón said on a […]
Advocates tour Louisiana to register voters, educate citizens on voting rights
A Louisiana voting rights advocacy group is touring the state this summer to register Black voters and educate residents on their voting rights in order to increase turnout in the 2024 elections. In honor of the 1964 Freedom Summer voter registration drive, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is going to cities across Louisiana […]
Q&A: Marc Morial talks 2024 election ahead of National Urban League Conference
NEW ORLEANS — Starting next week, the National Urban League, the civil rights organization headed by former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, will host its annual conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel in the Central Business District. The conference is expected to bring thousands of attendees to the city to discuss the challenges facing Black […]
Qualifying for Louisiana’s election candidates starts Wednesday
Candidate qualifying for the Nov. 5, 2024, election in Louisiana will take place Wednesday through Friday. The Louisiana Secretary of State will register candidates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, July 17-19, at the Louisiana State Archives, 3851 Essen Lane in Baton Rouge. Aside from the presidential election, the most watched races in […]
Disability advocate files federal lawsuit over Louisiana’s new absentee ballot laws
A group that advocates for people with disabilities filed a Voting Rights Act lawsuit Wednesday against the state of Louisiana to block a slate of new laws that target absentee voting. The four laws in question include one that makes it illegal to print out an application form from a state website and give it […]
Election deniers stop repeal of Louisiana’s burdensome voting machines law
Under renewed pressure from far-right election deniers, the Louisiana Legislature abandoned its attempt to repeal a 2021 law that has made the task of buying voting machines overly burdensome. House Bill 856, sponsored by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Pineville, died just one step shy of final passage during the closing days of the 2024 legislative session […]