Restricting the Vote 

The concerted national effort to restrict Americans' voting rights in 2012 was met with an equally dramatic pushback by courts, the press, and engaged citizens.

By Election Day the worst laws had been blocked, blunted, postponed, or repealed. 

The Brennan Center was instrumental in leading this fight representing civil rights groups. Center attorneys helped win court rulings to block harsh voter ID laws in South Carolina and Texas that could have made it harder for hundreds of thousands to cast ballots.

The Center’s suit on behalf of the League of Women Voters and Rock the Vote blocked Florida’s new law which had forced nonpartisan groups to end voter registration in the Sunshine State. 

Thousands of voters were registered after the federal court ruled. The Center led an extensive public opinion research project on attitudes toward voting. 

Over 300 organizations used this cutting edge research to help win victories in Colorado, Minnesota, and elsewhere.

Overall in 2012 restrictive voting laws in 14 states were blocked, diluted, repealed or postponed which helped protect millions of votes.

In 2013 and beyond the Brennan Center will continue to fight restrictive voting laws to safeguard our fundamental right to vote.