VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION LAW
(LAWM-4030) - 3 UNITS

This course surveys the law governing voting, elections and the political process in the United States. We will explore various conceptions of the right to vote and how the electorate is defined. Readings will cover leading Supreme Court voting rights decisions from Baker v. Carr through Shelby County v. Holder and Allen v. Milligan. Topics covered will include constitutional and statutory vote dilution claims, racial and political gerrymandering challenges, vote denial and the right to participate in elections, ballot access, alternative voting systems, and the future of the federal Voting Rights Act. We will also address current controversies surrounding expanding voter access and preventing alleged voter fraud. In addition to case law, the course will focus on the political philosophies underlying judicial decisions and the arguments of parties in leading voting rights cases.

Pass/Fail:
No

Prerequisites:
Constitutional Law (LAWC-2003)