Two weeks after Election Day, voting rights advocates are taking stock of the issues that plagued the 2016 election cycle—barriers to registering to vote, access to the ballot box, confusing new laws and court cases—and looking ahead to the battles to come.

Numerous times since the civil rights era, courts have struck down how partisan state legislatures set up legislative districts on the grounds that those decisions diminished the political power of racial minorities. But courts have been far less likely to intervene in cases where states organized voting districts to boost one party, preferring to not get involved in explicitly political matters.

Voting Rights Act will operate in limited capacity this election, leaving voters without federal oversight

For the first time in over 50 years, the Voting Rights Act does not have the power to check state laws for discriminatory practices

"A growing conflict over voting rights is playing out in Georgia, where the presidential race is tightening"

“America cannot forget the sorrow of those who died for this precious right to vote.”

"For an estimated thousands of Indiana residents, voting is not just a constitutional right — it is also a potentially perilous encounter that forces them to out themselves as transgender."

"Now that Congress has overridden President Obama’s veto of JASTA, many members of Congress seem to be experiencing buyer’s remorse as they contemplate the possible implications for the United States, including its own sovereign immunity and its relationship with Saudi Arabia." source

Another great PTM Brown Bag Session!  Check out our interview with ACLU Indiana President Dr. Terri Jett and Ed Feigenbaum Publisher of INGroup.

“Going back to 2008, we’ve been reminding people on Facebook to vote on Election Day and directing them to information on where to vote,” said Samidh Chakrabarti, who manages civic engagement products for Facebook. “This is the natural next step.”

Recently, Jim announced that he'll be retiring from WISH TV and Indiana Week in Review in early November.  Jim's engaging reporting style and talent as the host of one of Indiana's most informative political talk shows will be missed by many Hoosiers.

We hope you enjoy this interesting and humorous PTM Brown Bag Session!