Voting Rights Today
No new voting rights amendments have been added to the Constitution since the passage of the 26th amendment. Congress has passed a variety of legislation to improve equity and access to voter registration processes and to standardize and modernize voting systems and methods. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act was unconstitutional. This amendment allows states to make changes to their voting laws more freely, removing protections for the most vulnerable groups and essentially undermines the integrity of the entire act.
Even as voting access has been expanded in many places, state laws have been passed that allow massive purges of voter rolls and lifetime disenfranchisement for people who have been convicted of felonies. In response to laws that disenfranchise specific groups of voters, activists work to combat gerrymandering, restrictive voter ID laws, unequal access to polling places, inadequate voting technology, and the lack of representation of non-citizen residents of the United States.
Explore recent news coverage of voting rights issues related to redistricting and gerrymandering, the 2000 election controversies, voter registration laws, lowering the voting age, the reauthorization and constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act, and voting in 2020.
College Park, MD, undated, Diamondback photographs
Post 2020 Election
Following the 2020 election, questions over election security, debates about voter restrictions, and politicians refusing to accept the results of the national election stoked fear and anger among many Americans. This nation remains deeply divided and future elections seem poised to involve fierce debates over electoral ethics.
Capital News Service CNS-TV Election 2020 live coverage
Capital News Service TV, 3 November 2020.
Joe Biden takes oath as 46th president, declares ‘democracy has prevailed’ – CNS Maryland
Capital News Service, 20 January 2021.
UMD voting turnout higher in presidential election than national average, study finds
The Diamondback, 16 November 2021.
Debunking the “Latinx Vote” — The Black Explosion
The Black Explosion, 30 November 2020.
Election Security in 2020
Capital News Service, 8 December 2020.
Voter restrictions are being proposed in 47 states, report says
Capital News Service, 1 April 2021.
Senate acquits Trump of inciting Capitol attack, though bipartisan majority finds him guilty
Capital News Service, 13 February 2021.
After deadly insurrection, Gov. Larry Hogan calls for Trump’s removal or resignation
The Diamondback, 7 January 2021.
Not a coup, but something new: UMD professors decipher Trump’s post-election actions
The Diamondback, 17 November 2020.
20 arrested, 1 stabbed during the “Million MAGA March” in Washington D.C.
The Black Explosion, 18 November 2020.
Arizona Recount Of 2020 Election Ballots Found No Proof Of Corruption
National Public Radio, 25 September 2021.
Shaye Moss staffed an election office in Georgia. Then she was targeted by Trump
National Public Library, 22 June 2022.
A probe into election interference in Georgia focuses on Rudy Giuliani
National Public Radio, 16 August 2022.
What We've Learned From A Month Of January 6th Committee Hearings
National Public Radio, 29 June 2022.
Special Coverage Of Violent Riots At U.S Capitol
National Public RAdio, Janary 6 2021.
'What Happened Yesterday Is Textbook Terrorism,' D.C. Mayor Says : Capitol Insurrection Updates
National Public Radio, 7 January 2021.
Here Are The Republicans Who Objected To The Electoral College Count : Capitol Insurrection Updates
National Public Radio, 7 January 2021.
Voting in 2020
Our most recent election took place amidst a pandemic and intense social protests. We awaited the results of our election for days and many of us voted in ways we never had before. Voting in general, voting by mail and early voting saw massive and historic increases. Debates raged throughout the year as parties fought to defend the mechanisms they believed would ensure the most fair election possible. The questions and issues that arose this year will likely influence our electoral system for many years to come.
Now is the time to unify and streamline state election laws
The Diamondback, 8 November 2020
University Publications
Map: Election Day polling sites in Maryland
The Diamondback, 3 November 2020
University Publications
A visual recap of early voting in Prince George’s County and Maryland
The Diamondback, 3 November 2020
University Publications
As the presidential election nears, some UMD students are wary of mail-in voting
The Diamondback, 18 September 2020
University Publications
Elections are crucial to democracy. We need vote-by-mail to protect them
The Diamondback, 29 April 2020
University Publications
Some states have tried to limit ballot drop-off locations, but the voters keep coming
Capital News Service, 22 October 2020
University Publications
Maryland’s early and mail-in votes outpace 2016
Capital News Service TV, 30 October 2020
University Publications
Examining Postal Service and early voting issues in nine swing states
Capital News Service, 2 November 2020
University Publications
State voter ID laws counter Trump’s ballot fraud claims
Capital News Service, 7 October 2020
University Publications
UMD students volunteer as poll workers during early voting at Xfinity Center
The Diamondback, 30 October 2020.
Redistricting and Gerrymandering
Despite the protections provided by the Voting Rights Act, redistricting and gerrymandering continue to be a way to effectively disenfranchise and suppress the voting power of marginalized communities. Lawsuits addressing concerns of unfair and unlawful redistricting, often referred to as gerrymandering, are regularly brought before state and federal courts, some enduring the long journey to be deliberated in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Again Rules on Redistricting Formula
NPR All Things Considered, 28 June 1993
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
Kweisi Mfume - Former NAACP President
Direct Connection, 7 February 2005
Maryland Public Television records
How politics took a Maryland congressional district from tiny to sprawling
Capital News Service TV, 01 November 2016
University Publications
Supreme Court hears arguments in Maryland gerrymandering case
Capital News Service TV, 29 March 2019
University Publications
Maryland Court of Appeals overturns Prince George’s redistricting map
Diamondback News, 8 March 2022
University Publications
Prince George’s County judge orders controversial redistricting map to be scrapped
The Diamondback, 6 February 2022.
2000 Election Controversies
Florida has been a critical swing state for many years. In 2000, the election was so close that the entire outcome hinged on a few hundred votes in the state. The razor thin margin, accusations of intentional voter disenfranchisement and budding awareness of the disparity that can exist between the popular and electoral college votes led 2000 to be a wild election year that taught many Americans the ways our democratic institutions can fail to ensure the ideal of “one person, one vote”.
Gore Campaign Supporting Challenges to the Original Outcome of the Presidential Election That Showed Bush Winning Florida
Morning Edition, 10 November 2000
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
NAACP Prepares Legal Challenge To The Conduct Of Florida's Election
All Things Considered, 1 December 2000
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
US Supreme Court's Decision to Stop Further Counting of Votes in Florida, Seen as an Apparent Victory for George W. Bush
Talk of the Nation, 13 December 2000
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
Significant Number of Florida's Voters Disenfranchised According to a Report by US Civil Rights Commission
Morning Edition, 6 June 2001
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
Voter Registration Laws
In recent decades, political leaders have pushed for national legislation to expand voter registration while others have made efforts to restrict registration, invoking fears of voter fraud. There are still many barriers to voter registration in some localities, making the process incredibly difficult for many Americans to demonstrate their eligibility to cast a ballot.
Should Felons be Allowed to Vote?
The Black Explosion, 26 December 2017
University Publications
House Democrats introduce bill to fight voter suppression
Capital News Service TV, 27 February 2019
University Publications
Among expectations of record voter turnout, many people still cannot or will not vote
Capital News Service, 30 October 2020
University Publications
Some Maryland Legislators Want to Give Vote Back to Felons
Capital News Service, 26 October 2001
University Publications
Suppressing Minority Voters Nothing new in America
All Things Considered, 15 November 1993
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
ID Laws Bring New Attention To Voting Rights Act
All Things Considered, 10 September 2012
National Public Radio records
What Changes After Supreme Court Ruling On Voting Rights Act
Talk of the Nation, 25 June 2013
National Public Radio records
Court Rules Texas Voter ID Law Is Discriminatory
All Things Considered, 5 August 2015
National Public Radio records
Supreme Court Lets Texas Voter ID Law Stand - For Now
Weekend All Things Considered, 29 April 2016
National Public Library records
NAACP and Mary-PIRG join forces for voter registration drive
The Black Explosion, 03 December 2019
University Publications
Lowering the Voting Age
Since the passage of the 24th amendment, not much national attention has been given to lowering the voting age beyond 18, but local governments have continued the debate. Proponents of more inclusive voting laws argue that teens are increasingly socially and politically active, are savvy and informed, and should be allowed to exercise the right to vote.
Unlikely Advocates Push To Give 16-Year-Olds A Vote - And A Voice
All Things Considered, 18 January 2016
National Public Library records
At 16, Calif. Students Say They're Ready To Vote
Day to Day, 3 November 2008
National Public Library records
A Case For Giving 16-Year-Olds The Vote
All Things Considered, 31 March 2018
National Public Library records
The Voting Rights Act: Its Reauthorization and Constitutionality
Because the Voting Rights Act (VRA) was created as a bill and not passed as an amendment to the Constitution, it regularly comes up for reauthorization by Congress. Some years have seen contentious debates and votes, while other years have seen the reauthorization pass easily with a majority of both Houses voting in support of the Act. Within the past decade, we saw an historical change as Section 4 of the VRA was deemed unconstitutional, impacting the ability of the Department of Justice to protect voters from new laws that place biased barriers between Americans and the ballot box.
Voting Rights Act Controversy Continues
All Things Considered, 5 June 1993
National Public Radio records
(Transcripts are available for viewing only at the University of Maryland's College Park campus or through a VPN connection)
Congressmen Look to Extend Voting Rights Act
News & Notes, 3 May 2006
National Public Radio records
Rep. John Lewis Pushes For Updated Voting Rights Act
Here and Now, 17 July 2013
National Public Radio records