Raising the Bar: The Future of Voting Rights in New Jersey and Beyond

May 22, 2024 @ 12:30 pm 2:00 pm

On May 22, 2024, at 12:30 p.m., the American Civil Liberties of New Jersey will host “Raising the Bar: The Future of Voting Rights in New Jersey and Beyond.”

At this 90-minute virtual panel event, the ACLU-NJ will bring together leading experts to discuss the status of voting rights in New Jersey and across the United States, including the erosion of federal protections and the emergence of new tools and strategies for expanding ballot access and political power.

In recent years, the United States Supreme Court and federal courts around the country have steadily retreated from the vigorous protection of voting rights, enabling widespread anti-democratic legislation and governance – from racial gerrymandering to voter suppression to election interference. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the federal Voting Rights Act has been substantially diminished. This panel will discuss how states can, should, and have taken up the mantle of advancing and enforcing voting rights, and will explore opportunities and obstacles unique to New Jersey’s legal and political landscape.

This event will be moderated by ACLU-NJ Staff Attorney Liza Weisberg.

Panelists include:

  • Sophia Lin Lakin, Director, ACLU’s Voting Rights Project
  • Henal Patel, Law and Policy Director, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
  • Michael Pernick, Redistricting Counsel, Legal Defense Fund
  • And more to be announced.

Please join us for an event about how our ongoing advocacy efforts are helping to turn New Jersey into a true multiracial democracy. Attendance is free and open to all, and CLE credits will be available for attendees.

Sponsorship opportunities are available here.