This Week in Voter Suppression June 15 – 21

By Chris deLaubenfels, Director of Policy and Communications, Let America Vote

An End to Gerrymandering in the Granite State?

As we wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on extreme partisan gerrymandering, Democratic legislators in New Hampshire have moved a bill forward that would establish an independent redistricting panel to draw the state’s legislative districts after the 2020 census. The bill will now head to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who has not stated whether he intends to sign the bill. Independent redistricting commissions are an important tool to prevent partisan gerrymandering and ensure fair maps.

SCOTUS Kills Virginia’s Racial Gerrymander

Voters in Virginia will no longer have to vote under an unfair map that discriminates against black voters, diluting their voting power. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Virginia House Republicans did not have authority to appeal a federal court’s decision striking down the gerrymandered maps as unconstitutional. This ruling restores voting power to Virginia’s voters before elections this November.

State AGs Sound the Alarm on Election Security

As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to block election security legislation, attorneys general from 21 states sent a letter to Congress requesting that they take actions to secure our elections. The letter, penned by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, requests that Congress provide election security funding to states and localities, establish cybersecurity and audit standards for election systems, and pass bipartisan election security legislation.

Other Good News in Voting Rights

Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill establishing automatic voter registration. Automatic voter registration is one of the easiest ways to increase voter participation, enhance election security, and reduce the costs of elections. Maine is now the 16th state to establish AVR. New York almost joined Maine in passing AVR this session, but efforts fell short. Democrats in New York vowed that they will pass an updated automatic voter registration bill at the next possible opportunity.

Despite the Tennessee GOP’s extreme effort to suppress voter registration, HeadCount registered a record 1,390 voters at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival!