Document Type
Article
Media Type
Text
Abstract
The introduction of state level voting laws in recent years is arguably unprecedented in both quantity and content, at least since the turn of the last century. This Article provides a background on legislative trends in order to give context to the thoughtful articles in this issue. First, the Article sets forth the types of recent laws that may serve as a barrier to voting, including felon disenfranchisement, proof of citizenship requirements, limits on voter registration drives and other registration practices, and voter identification laws. It next describes the countervailing trend towards increased legislation that expands voting opportunities and modernizes our election system. These proposed laws and reforms include online voter registration, Same Day Registration, electronic (also known as automated) and portable registration, and multi-state information sharing programs like ERIC. This Article highlights some of the primary elements, concerns, and controversies related to these recent voting laws, while posing the overarching question what is it that we, as a society, want our election laws to resolve, promote, or protect?
First Page
507
Last Page
528
Publication Date
7-1-2014
Department
Other
ISSN
0734-1490
Language
eng
Publisher
Northern Illinois University Law Review
Recommended Citation
Liebling, Marissa
(2014)
"Introduction to the Northern Illinois College of Law 2014 Symposium Shelby County v. Holder: A New Perspective on Voting Rights,"
Northern Illinois University Law Review: Vol. 34:
Iss.
3, Article 1.
Suggested Citation
Marissa Liebling, Introduction to the Northern Illinois College of Law 2014 Symposium Shelby County v. Holder: A New Perspective on Voting Rights, 34 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 507 (2014).
