Opinion

Read in-depth op-eds on voting rights and democracy from our contributors, guest authors and Democracy Docket's founder, Marc Elias. Use the drop-down menu to organize by topic.

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Republicans Want To Make It Harder to Vote and Easier to Cheat

Unable to attract the support of a majority of eligible voters, Republicans are left to try to rig the voting rules and exploit election loopholes.

By Marc Elias

July 18, 2023

$Light blue background with an abacus where the top two rows are painted blue and the bottom row is painted red and an elephant stands on the bottom red row and is painting one of the blue rows red.$

Revisiting Moore v. Harper and the Threats to Democracy

We cannot let the focus on this one case, as important as it was, obscure the fact that threats to our democracy come in many forms.

By Marc Elias

July 11, 2023

Light blue background with deep blue toned image of the U.S. Supreme Court's opinion in Moore v. Harper surrounded by black and white toned images of open mouths and wide eyes.

Lessons From 303 Creative: We Must Intervene To Save Democracy

As a voting rights lawyer, I babysit Republican lawsuits because democracy deserves the best defense of voting rights.

By Marc Elias

July 7, 2023

Demonstrators are seen outside the Supreme Court before justices heard oral arguments on 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis Dec. 5, 2022 (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images)

John Roberts’ Last Word Is Not the Final Say

I believed that Roberts knew better until I read his last words of the term in which he blamed the dissent for the Court’s current predicament.

By Marc Elias

July 6, 2023

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., makes remarks at the opening celebration of the Centennial of the U.S. Courthouse in Providence, RI., as a member of his security team looks on Tuesday morning, Feb. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

A Dangerous Legal Theory Is Rejected

Writing for a six-justice majority, Chief Justice John Roberts firmly rejected the so-called independent state legislature theory.

By Marc Elias

June 27, 2023

Dark blue background with black and white toned image of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices, a blue-toned image of the map of North Carolina, a blue-toned screenshot of the Supreme Court's opinion in Moore v. Harper, a red-toned screenshot of Justice Clarence Thomas' dissent with white scribble on top and a blue-toned image of a woman holding a scale.

Red States Wage War on Blue Cities

By enacting bills aimed at local prosecutors, these states are stripping communities of their right to self-determination.

By Jessica Pishko

June 21, 2023

Red background with four Monopoly men carrying various state shapes, from the left: Pennsylvania, Texas, Mississippi and Florida.

Ohio’s Wobbly and Ongoing Path to Fair Maps

In 2022, Republicans forced Ohioans to vote under maps more rigged than the ones we had 10 years and two anti-gerrymandering reforms ago.

By Katy Shanahan

June 15, 2023

Blue background with dark blue toned images of the Ohio Redistricting Commission and members of the Ohio Legislature and also images of voters holding signs that read "OHIO IS ALL IN FOR FAIR MAPS." There are also red-toned images of different versions of Ohio's congressional map.

Louisiana Gets a Shot at Fair Maps After Supreme Court Ruling in Allen v. Milligan

Most people who work on, or follow, civil rights issues in the U.S. woke up on Thursday, June 8, 2023, with a feeling of impending doom.

By Peter Robins-Brown

June 13, 2023

Blue background with an image of the U.S. Supreme Court opinion's in Allen v. Milligan, the map of Louisiana and the U.S. Supreme Court.

What Trump’s Indictment Means for 2024

Trump is convinced that his entire future hinges on the results of the 2024 election: his legacy, his stature and, most importantly, his personal liberty.

By Marc Elias

June 12, 2023