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  • The Court v. The Voters

  • The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights
  • By: Joshua A. Douglas
  • Narrated by: Chris Baetens
  • Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

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The Court v. The Voters

By: Joshua A. Douglas
Narrated by: Chris Baetens
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Publisher's Summary

An urgent and gripping look at the erosion of voting rights and its implications for democracy, told through the stories of 9 Supreme Court decisions—and the next looming case

In The Court v. The Voters, law professor Joshua Douglas takes us behind the scenes of significant cases in voting rights—some surprising and unknown, some familiar—to investigate the historic crossroads that have irrevocably changed our elections and the nation. In crisp and accessible prose, Douglas tells the story of each case, sheds light on the intractable election problems we face as a result, and highlights the unique role the highest court has played in producing a broken electoral system.

Douglas charts infamous cases like:

  • Bush v. Gore, which opened the door to many election law claims
  • Citizens United, which contributed to skewed representation—but perhaps not in the way you might think
  • Shelby County v. Holder, which gutted the vital protections of the Voting Rights Act
  • Crawford v. Marion County Elections Board, which allowed states to enforce voter ID laws and make it harder for people to vote

The Court v. The Voters powerfully reminds us of the tangible, real-world effects from the Court’s voting rights decisions. While we can—and should—lament the democracy that might have been, Douglas argues that we can—and should—double down in our efforts to protect the right to vote.

©2024 Joshua A. Douglas (P)2024 Beacon Press

Critic Reviews

“A solid argument for judicial reform—and if not that, bypassing the Supreme Court whenever possible.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Progressive voters are angry at the Supreme Court for failing to protect voting rights, but many do not understand exactly what the Court did or the stories behind the cases. Joshua Douglas offers a readable field guide to Citizens United, Bush v. Gore, and other notorious election cases that is sure to edify and disturb the curious reader.”—Richard L. Hasen, author of A Real Right to Vote

The Court v. The Voters is the crucial and compelling story of how the most undemocratic branch of the US government has been chipping away at voting rights protections and election law fairness. In evaluating election rules, the Supreme Court now deemphasizes harm to voters and defers to state lawmakers. But this distressing story doesn’t end here, as Douglas shares his judicious strategies for shoring up our democracy.”—Jennifer Frost, author of “Let Us Vote!”: Youth Voting Rights and the 26th Amendment

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