Publications
Power and Democracy

Voter Protection

Voter Protection Nutshell CoverVoter Protection Laws in a Nutshell
These publications are part of a series intended to distill complex election law for lawyers, advocates, voter registration campaigns and “Get Out the Vote” campaigns. They combine state election law with state regulations, rules, attorney general opinions and other election materials to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the law and practices that impact elections. While these publications does not cover every provision of state election law, they highlight those provisions which, in our experience, have most impacted the voting rights of minority voters.

Advancement Project publishes these nutshells with local law firms and lawyers as part of our "Voter Protection Program" project. We encourage our partners to use these legal guides in support of local, on the ground voter protection efforts in advance of Election Day.

*Nutshells are for download only.

 



State Guides to Restoration of Voting Rights

The Power and Democracy program of Advancement Project is releasing a series of comprehensive state guides to assist formerly incarcerated persons seeking restoration of their voting rights. Along with a wealth of information about the voting rights restoration process, the handbooks also contain various application materials that one will need to complete the process. Additionally, the handbooks contain lists of relevant contact persons and places, as well as other useful supplemental information. To download a handbook in its entirety, please click on its title. Links to individual sections of each handbook are located below the title.

Available for download only!		 Delaware Voting Guide

Available for download only!		 Virginia Guide to Restoration of Voting Rights

  • Body of the Guide featuring:
    1. General Information
    2. Short Application for Non-Violent Convictions (Including Drug Possession)
    3. Long Application for Violent, Drug, Election Law, and All Other Offenses
    4. Petition to Court for Non-Violent Offenses
    5. Registering to Vote
  • Attachment A featuring:
    1. Application for Restoration of Rights for Certain Non-Violent Offenders
  • Attachment B featuring:
    1. Instructions for Completing the Long Application
    2. Application for Restoration of Civil Rights
    3. Letter of Petition Form
    4. Letter of Reference Form
  • Attachment C featuring:
    1. Offenses for Which VA Courts Cannot Be Used to Restore Voting Rights
  • Attachment D featuring:
    1. Circuit Courts of Virginia
  • Attachment E featuring:
    1. Petition for Approval of the Right to Be Eligible to Register to Vote
    2. Virginia Voter Registration Application Form

Free of charge.		 NO PLANS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR RETREAT:
Documenting Black Political Power in Florida

This is a newly published study by Advancement Project, a national racial justice group based in Washington, DC. It takes a broader look at events leading up to the largest mobilization of Black voters in Florida’s history and reaches two conclusions:
  1. Voting rights are still fragile and must be vigorously protected; and
  2. Issue-oriented, grassroots, "get-out-the-vote" (GOTV) efforts are the key to tapping into the political power of the Black community.
RE-ENFRANCHISEMENT:
A Guide for Individual Restoration of Voting Rights in States That Permanently Disenfranchise Former Felons

The report provides the first comprehensive guide for former felons who are seeking help in navigating through "the labyrinth of complex technicalities, convoluted legislative formulae, and other confusing procedural requirements standing in the way of their right to vote."
AMERICA’S MODERN POLL TAX: How Structural Disenfranchisement Erodes Democracy

This November 2001 report is based on case studies of systemic election breakdowns in eight states and cities across the nation and an unprecedented survey of state election directors, which reinforces the findings of the case studies. The Report reveals the national scope of structural disenfranchisement, illuminating problems much deeper than punch card machines and much wider than Florida. It provides hard-hitting recommendations for the protection of democracy and the guarantee of equal access to the polls regardless of race, language, ethnicity or disability.
REDISTRICTING FOR INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY:
A Survey of the Voting Rights Landscape and Strategies for Post-2000 Redistricting

Released in June 2000, this report calls for a series of measures to be supported now and throughout the redistricting process to help ensure that minorities in the USA have an adequate and fair chance to elect representatives of their choice.