r ID requirements, reductions in early voting, and the elimination of same-day voter registration.
The court found that the law targeted African-American voters with “surgical precision” and disproportionately affected their ability to vote. The ruling was a major victory for voting rights advocates, but the case reflects ongoing debates over whether states can implement laws that restrict voting in the name of preventing voter fraud.
4. Gerrymandering Cases: Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)
Another pivotal area of election law that has been litigated extensively in recent years is gerrymandering, the practice of drawing legislative district boundaries to favor one political party over another. In Rucho v. Common Cause (2019), the Supreme Court ruled that claims of partisan gerrymandering are not justiciable under the U.S. Constitution. The Court concluded that such cases involve political questions that are not suitable for judicial resolution and should instead be addressed by the political process.
While this ruling effectively prevents federal courts from intervening in cases of partisan gerrymandering, it has led to calls for legislative reforms to address the issue and proposals for independent commissions to draw district lines in a way that reduces partisan bias.
5. The Extension of Voting Rights Act Protections: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
In response to the Shelby County decision and other legal battles over voting rights, there have been efforts in Congress to restore protections under the Voting Rights Act. In 2021, Democratic lawmakers introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which sought to reinstate the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act. The bill proposed updating the formula for determining which jurisdictions would be subject to federal review before making changes to voting laws.
The act was introduced to address concerns that voting laws in several states were becoming more restrictive and disproportionately affected minority voters. While the bill has not passed due to partisan divisions, its introduction highlights ongoing federal efforts to safeguard voting rights and address perceived injustices in the electoral system.
6. Court Rulings on Felon Voting Rights
Over the past decade, several legal battles have arisen over the issue of felon disenfranchisement, particularly in states like Florida. In Johnson v. Governor of Florida (2018), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s policy requiring individuals with felony convictions to pay all fines and fees before regaining the right to vote was unconstitutional.
This ruling was in response to a 2018 amendment to the Florida Constitution, which restored voting rights to individuals who had completed their sentences but left unresolved questions about the financial burden of restitution. The case set the stage for broader debates about the fairness and constitutionality of disenfranchising individuals based on criminal convictions.
7. The Case for Expanding Early Voting: The Case of Texas (2020)
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states expanded early voting and absentee voting options to ensure that voters could safely participate in elections. Texas, however, faced multiple legal challenges related to its restrictions on voting by mail and absentee ballots.
In the 2020 election, Texas tried to limit mail-in ballots to those aged 65 and older, which led to legal challenges arguing that these restrictions disproportionately impacted younger and minority voters. Federal courts intervened, ruling that Texas could not impose such restrictive measures. This case highlighted the ongoing debate about how election procedures can be adapted to the realities of modern life while ensuring equitable access to voting.
Conclusion
Federal litigations and court decisions continue to significantly impact election law and voting rights, influencing everything from voter ID requirements to gerrymandering practices and voter access to the polls. While there have been substantial victories for voting rights advocates, ongoing litigation suggests that the battle over voting rights and election fairness will remain a defining feature of U.S. law for the foreseeable future. As new challenges arise and court decisions continue to shape the landscape of U.S. elections, the importance of ensuring equitable access to the ballot remains a key priority for lawmakers, courts, and activists alike.
