Defending Democracy with Marc Elias

There are 17 states where Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature. These so-called “trifectas” should use their power to pass robust legislation to protect the right to vote in their states. Marc and Paige discuss five voting laws that all blue states should pass this year. Make sure you’re following us on all platforms: Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: Five Voting Laws Needed To Protect Democracy The Worst Provision of a Very Bad Law Poll Watchers: Republicans’ Latest Weapon Message to Counties: Certifying Elections Is Not Optional The Independent State Legislature Theory

The U.S. Supreme Court is already poised to issue decisions in two major elections cases that could fundamentally alter American democracy, but there are more voting rights cases coming its way. Marc and Paige discuss what’s next on the Supreme Court’s docket and what’s at stake. Make sure you’re following us on all platforms: Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: North Carolina Supreme Court Will Rehear Two Voting Rights Cases With New GOP Majority The Independent State Legislature Theory Case pages: Moore v. Harper Merrill v. Milligan Ohio Congressional Redistricting: Neiman v. LaRose South Carolina Redistricting: South Carolina NAACP v. Alexander Mississippi Congressional Redistricting: Buck v. Reeves Mississippi Felony Disenfranchisement: Harness v. Watson Maryland Mail-in Ballots: Cox v. Maryland State Board of Elections Kansas Congressional Redistricting: Rivera v. Schwab

A major voter intimidation case out of Georgia went to court this week. Fair Fight Action sued True the Vote, a Texas-based, right-wing "election integrity" group, for illegally intimidating voters after the group challenged the voter eligibility of over 364,000 Georgians in the run-up to the 2021 Senate runoff elections. Marc and Paige break down how voter challenges like these work and their impact on voters.  Make sure you’re following us on all platforms: Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: University of Georgia Poll Challenging Someone Else’s Voter Eligibility Shouldn’t Be So Easy. But It Is. Voter Testimony: Intimidation and Disenfranchisement in the Georgia Senate Runoffs The Worst Provision of a Very Bad Law U.S. Department of Justice Submits Brief in Georgia Voter Intimidation Case True The Vote's connection to Clean Elections USA Lawsuits mentioned: Fair Fight v. True the Vote Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans v. Clean Elections USA

Update: On Feb. 3, 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court agreed to rehear both cases. Find out more here. North Carolina’s Republican-controlled Legislature wants the newly red state Supreme Court to rehear two major voting rights cases that they lost last term. Marc and Paige discuss how this is just North Carolina Republicans' latest scheme in its long history of undermining free and fair elections. Make sure you’re following us on all platforms. Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Mastodon Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: GOP Lawmakers Want Re-do of Partisan Gerrymandering Case After North Carolina Supreme Court Flips North Carolina Republicans Ask State Supreme Court To Rehear Photo ID Law Read The Latest Gambit From North Carolina Republicans by Marc Elias Read: Partisan Control Was on the Line in These State Supreme Court Races by Mac Brower Shelby County v. Holder Moore v. Harper Holmes v. Moore Community Success Initiative v. Moore

On the 13th anniversary of Citizens United and the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we’re joined by special guest Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to discuss issues facing the judiciary and the network of anti-democratic forces influencing our courts. Make sure you’re following us on all platforms. Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: Moore v. Harper Case Page Merrill v. Milligan Case Page American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock Read Sen. Whitehouse’s amicus brief in Moore v. Harper Read Sen. Whitehouse’s book The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court Read A Constellation of Anti-Voting Groups Threaten Democracy by Marc Elias

Marc and Paige discuss what they expect during upcoming legislative sessions and our new litigation report, with a side of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) shenanigans. Make sure you’re following us on all platforms. Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Mastodon Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: Alert: New York Senate Passes Bill Removing Line-Warming Ban Alert: Proof of ID to Vote Amendment Passes Pennsylvania Senate Alert: Voter Sues Judge Who Dismissed Kari Lake’s Election Contest 2022 Litigation Report: How Republicans Lost and Voters Won in Court

In a bonus episode of Defending Democracy, Marc and Paige discuss Ohio’s new voter suppression law, exactly what it does, why it’s so harmful to voters and the lawsuit already filed challenging it. Send us a question via voice message! Make sure you’re following us on all platforms. Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Mastodon Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: Alert: Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law Alert: Ohio Organizations Sue Over State’s New Voter Suppression Law Lawsuit Over H.B. 458 Case Page

On the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, House Republicans still can’t elect a Speaker, a federal court issued a victory for voters in South Carolina and we’re gearing up for a new wave of redistricting litigation in 2023. Send us a question via voice message! Make sure you’re following us on all platforms. Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Mastodon Subscribe to our free newsletters | Support our work Related links: Alert: Biden Signs Electoral Count Reform Act Into Law Read: Naming the Insurrection by Marc Elias Read: It Is Time to Reform the Electoral Count Act by Marc Elias Read: How Gerrymandering Helped Republicans Win the House Alert: Federal Court Strikes Down South Carolina Congressional District Alert: Texas Lawmakers Prefile Over 70 Election and Voting Bills

In an impromptu episode, Marc and Paige discuss the status of the five Republican election contests in Arizona and Kari Lake's trial. Plus, get Marc’s thoughts on Congress passing the Electoral Count Reform Act in the omnibus spending bill. Send us a question via voice message! Make sure you’re following us on all platforms: Twitter Post Facebook Instagram TikTok Mastodon Subscribe to our free newsletter | Support our work Related links: Alert: Arizona Court Dismisses GOP Lawsuit Asking to “Annul” Election Results Alert: Arizona Judge Dismisses Finchem Election Contest Alert: Arizona Judge Dismisses Majority of Kari Lake’s Claims in Gubernatorial Election Contest Alert: Kari Lake’s Governor Election Contest Completes First Day of Trial Alert: U.S. Senate Passes Electoral Count Reform Act Read: “It Is Time to Reform the Electoral Count Act” by Marc Elias Kari Lake’s Governor Election Contest Completes First Day of Trial Kari Lake’s Governor Election Contest Completes Second Day of Trial Josh Barnett’s Election Contest Case Page Mark Finchem’s Election Contest Case Page Sonny Borrelli’s Election Contest Case Page Kari Lake’s Election Contest Case Page Abe Hamadeh's Election Contest Case Page

In the last episode of Defending Democracy of 2022 — and the first episode via podcast — Marc and Paige talk about election challenges in Arizona, how oral argument in Moore v. Harper went, the future of Georgia runoff elections and what to expect in 2023.