Vol. 48, No. 1: Economics of Voting

Featured

State Government

This Election Is Too Important

by Jason Abel

Inherent barriers to voting disproportionately affect those of color and those who are less affluent. Election administration challenges, combined with malicious state laws, have placed the right to vote at risk.

State Government

Beyond the Dollars and Cents: The Potential Hidden Cost of Running Elections

by Terry Ao Minnis

The cost of America’s democracy is rising, with increases to the cost of running and supporting elections to marginalized communities and election officials. Understanding these costs is critical to ensuring our democracy does not erode.

Rule Of Law

The Price of Democracy in International Elections

by Elizabeth M. Yang

Trying to determine the actual cost of elections around the world may be elusive. What is very clear, however, is that the cost of elections is well worth the price of creating global democracy and a more civil society.

Federal Government

Recent Changes in the Economics of Voting Caused by the Arrival of Super PACs

by Paul M. Smith and Saurav Ghosh

The overall amount of money being spent on our elections has increased exponentially, and wealthy special interests have spent astonishing sums, through super PACs, supporting their preferred candidates for public office.

Civil Rights & Constitution

How Inequality Impacts Voting Behavior

by Cynthia A. Swann and Elizabeth M. Yang

Historically, and not just in the United States, voters with higher incomes are able to participate in the electoral process more easily, thus engaging in and controlling the legislative debate in terms that will most likely favor their interests.

State Government

The Rise and Fall of Redistricting Commissions: Lessons from the 2020 Redistricting Cycle

by David Imamura

The goal of redistricting is a fair process where people choose their politicians and not the other way around. Washington, D.C., and states can learn from the experiences of failed redistricting commissions and avoid structural flaws.

Civil Rights & Constitution

The Battle to Enfranchise Indigenous Voters

by Robert O. Saunooke

Prioritizing the inclusion of the Native American community in the election process is an initial step in ensuring representation of the first Americans in this most important process.

Courts & Judiciary

The Modern Poll Tax: Too Many States Condition the Right to Vote on the Payment of Court Debt

by Hon. Lisa Foster (Ret.)

Those with felony convictions continue to be legally barred from voting, often because they lack the financial resources to pay court debt—fines, fees, and restitution—imposed at the time of their conviction.

Business & Corporate

The Implications of Corporate Political Donations

by Benjamin Edwards

Corporate political donations raise a mix of ethical, legal, and business concerns, mainly because donations serve to align political candidates with corporate interests and entangle corporations with political affairs.

Bias & Discrimination

Gender Parity in Election Laws: Past, Present, and Future

by Amber Maltbie, Elizabeth M. Yang, Jason Kaune, and Katherine Mirassou

While the federal government guarantees that the right to vote cannot be abridged on account of sex, state legislatures can further guarantee that the right to hold office is not disadvantaged by one’s gender.

Human Rights

Human Rights Hero: The Election Worker

by Bobbi M. Bittker

Election workers are a critical part of our voting process, without whom we could not establish an accurate, fair system. Yet, election infrastructure is in decay, with election workers increasingly being attacked for simply doing their jobs.

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Vol. 48, No. 1: Economics of Voting

Introduction

Featured

This Election Is Too Important

Beyond the Dollars and Cents: The Potential Hidden Cost of Running Elections

The Price of Democracy in International Elections

Recent Changes in the Economics of Voting Caused by the Arrival of Super PACs

How Inequality Impacts Voting Behavior

The Rise and Fall of Redistricting Commissions: Lessons from the 2020 Redistricting Cycle

The Battle to Enfranchise Indigenous Voters

The Modern Poll Tax: Too Many States Condition the Right to Vote on the Payment of Court Debt

The Implications of Corporate Political Donations

Gender Parity in Election Laws: Past, Present, and Future

Human Rights Hero: The Election Worker

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Renew Your ABA Membership

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Vol. 48, No. 1: Economics of Voting

Introduction

Featured

This Election Is Too Important

Beyond the Dollars and Cents: The Potential Hidden Cost of Running Elections

The Price of Democracy in International Elections

Recent Changes in the Economics of Voting Caused by the Arrival of Super PACs

How Inequality Impacts Voting Behavior

The Rise and Fall of Redistricting Commissions: Lessons from the 2020 Redistricting Cycle

The Battle to Enfranchise Indigenous Voters

The Modern Poll Tax: Too Many States Condition the Right to Vote on the Payment of Court Debt

The Implications of Corporate Political Donations

Gender Parity in Election Laws: Past, Present, and Future

Human Rights Hero: The Election Worker

Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Human Rights Magazine

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