Given the wave of voter suppression legislation since 2011, and the threats to
voting rights discussed following the 2016 general election, litigation has become
more important than ever to defend and protect our citizens’ right to vote.
LITIGATION
The Center investigates under-the-radar violations of the right to vote and has sued to enforce federal and state law requirements in novel and economical ways. We do not have a single approach to litigation and this frees us to discover new methods. By studying state election codes, including ID requirements and voter registration procedures, Fair Elections Center identifies opportunities to expand equal access to the ballot. We force state officials to explain why they treat similar groups of eligible voters differently and obtain court orders requiring them to stop such discriminatory practices. Below are some examples of past and current litigation.
LITIGATION
The Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Fair Elections Center and pro bono counsel from the law firm WilmerHale have filed a lawsuit demanding North Carolina take the necessary steps to guarantee a fair, safe election in November, given the likelihood that the state and the country will still be experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The suit was filed on behalf of Democracy North Carolina, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina and four individual voters.
Fair Elections Center joined Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the law firm Arnold & Porter in filing a federal lawsuit against Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, and other officials over the state’s lack of safe and accessible voting processes during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Fair Elections Center and Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC filed a brief with the Supreme Court of Florida arguing that under the Florida Constitution as amended by Amendment 4, people with felony convictions do not need to pay administrative costs and fees to regain their voting rights. These costs fund the criminal justice system, but do not serve as punishment and are not part of the criminal sentence.

Joint Memo with ACLU-NH: NH Residency Requirements Target Students (2018)
Fair Elections Network joined the ACLU-NH in a joint memorandum before the New Hampshire Supreme Court arguing that HB 1264 should not be reviewed by the Court at this time, and if it is reviewed, is unconstitutional. This bill imposes motor vehicle fees on voters who live in New Hampshire, but who know they will be leaving the state at some point in the future, which would have a particular impact on college students.