Voting Rights

Through litigation and advocacy, the ACLU is fighting back against attempts to curtail an essential right in our democracy, the right to vote.

Voting Rights

Following the 2016 election, the fight for voting rights remains as critical as ever. Politicians across the country continue to engage in voter suppression, efforts that include additional obstacles to registration, cutbacks on early voting, and strict voter identification requirements. Through litigation and advocacy, the ACLU is fighting back against attempts to curtail an essential right in our democracy, the right to vote. 

In addition to litigation, we are advocating for policies that make it easier for everyone to vote, such as the expansion of same-day and online voter registration. 

Recent voting rights events: 

In June 2013, in a massive blow to civil rights and democracy, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the current coverage formula of the Voting Rights Act. The ACLU has been fighting this rollback of voting rights through both advocacy and litigation and is working to expand the right to vote for all Americans by challenging criminal disenfranchisement laws and expanding same-day and online voter registration.

In 2015, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit challenging a South Dakota law that moved the deadline for new political parties striving for a place on the ballot.

In 2018, the U.S. District Court deemed South Dakota’s deadline far too restrictive, and agreed that it infringed on the right to vote and the freedom to associate. See the full decision here. 

 

The Latest

Resource
Placeholder image

Home

Press Release
Privacy and Technology

ACLU of South Dakota Condemns Violation of Voters’ Privacy Rights

Even though this sensitive information was exposed by mistake, the elected officials responsible for running our elections and keeping sensitive data confidential have an obligation to be transparent with impacted voters.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
Press Release
ACLU of South Dakota Press

ACLU of South Dakota Opposes Trio of Bills Regarding Residency, Voter Registration

It’s no secret that some of the state's elected leaders have tried over the years to disenfranchise the voting rights of residents who use mail-forwarding services. But it’s vitally important that people be allowed to exercise their rights to vote and to travel – without repercussions to either.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights
News & Commentary
Election observers 2024

Election Observer Recap: Monitoring Polling Places, Absentee Board Helps Ensure Voting Rights are Upheld

Nearly 50 trained election observers monitored Election Day locations in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen to watch for any issues that would disenfranchise voters, including questions about individual voter eligibility and mass challenges to absentee ballots.
Court Case
Jan 30, 2018

Libertarian Party v. Krebs

UPDATE: The U.S. District Court deemed South Dakota’s deadline far too restrictive, and agreed that it infringed on the right to vote and the freedom to associate.