Introduction to the Northern Illinois College of Law 2014 Symposium Shelby County v. Holder: A New Perspective on Voting Rights

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?