The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights

by: Joshua A. Douglas (Author)

Publisher: Beacon Press

Publication Date: May 14, 2024

Language: English

Print Length: 240 pages

ISBN-10: 0807010936

ISBN-13: 9780807010938

Book Description

An urgent and gripping look at the erosion of voting rights and its implications for democracy, told through the stories of 9 Supreme Court decisions—and the next looming case In The Court v. The Voters, law professor Joshua Douglas takes us behind the scenes of significant cases in voting rights—some surprising and unknown, some familiar—to investigate the historic crossroads that have irrevocably changed our elections and the nation. In crisp and accessible prose, Douglas tells the story of each case, sheds light on the intractable election problems we face as a result, and highlights the unique role the highest court has played in producing a broken electoral system. Douglas charts infamous cases like: Bush v. Gore, which opened the door to many election law claimsCitizens United, which contributed to skewed representation—but perhaps not in the way you might thinkShelby County v. Holder, which gutted the vital protections of the Voting Rights ActCrawford v. Marion County Elections Board, which allowed states to enforce voter ID laws and make it harder for people to vote The Court v. The Voters powerfully reminds us of the tangible, real-world effects from the Court’s voting rights decisions. While we can—and should—lament the democracy that might have been, Douglas argues that we can—and should—double down in our efforts to protect the right to vote.
An urgent and gripping look at the erosion of voting rights and its implications for democracy, told through the stories of 9 Supreme Court decisions—and the next looming case In The Court v. The Voters, law professor Joshua Douglas takes us behind the scenes of significant cases in voting rights—some surprising and unknown, some familiar—to investigate the historic crossroads that have irrevocably changed our elections and the nation. In crisp and accessible prose, Douglas tells the story of each case, sheds light on the intractable election problems we face as a result, and highlights the unique role the highest court has played in producing a broken electoral system. Douglas charts infamous cases like: Bush v. Gore, which opened the door to many election law claimsCitizens United, which contributed to skewed representation—but perhaps not in the way you might thinkShelby County v. Holder, which gutted the vital protections of the Voting Rights ActCrawford v. Marion County Elections Board, which allowed states to enforce voter ID laws and make it harder for people to vote The Court v. The Voters powerfully reminds us of the tangible, real-world effects from the Court’s voting rights decisions. While we can—and should—lament the democracy that might have been, Douglas argues that we can—and should—double down in our efforts to protect the right to vote. Read more