By The Editors
In a precedent-setting decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today struck down the state of Washington’s law barring felons from voting. It ruled that the law violates the federal Voting Rights Act because of widespread racism, racial discrimination and bias in the state’s criminal justice system.

By The Editors
On December 16, the LDF launched Count on Change 2010, a strategic, collaborative, national public education campaign designed to substantially improve the inclusion of the Black Diaspora in the 2010 Census.

“The 2000 Census overlooked 1 million people of color, more than 600,000 of whom were African American,” said John Payton, Director Counsel and President of LDF.

By TaRessa Stovall
On December 1, in a contest described in the media as “one of the tightest political contests in decades,” 30 percent of Atlanta voters elected Reed, 40, as the city’s sixth consecutive African-American mayor since the late Maynard Jackson made history as the first African-American to lead a major Southern city in 1973.

By Mark Lassiter
On Tuesday, December 1, a potentially historic mayoral election will take place in Atlanta, Georgia. The November 3 election led to a runoff between City Councilor Mary Norwood, a white woman running as an Independent, though some say she’s Republican; and Georgia State Senator Kasim Reed, a Democrat who has the support of both the local hip-hop stars and the old-school civil rights veterans.

By C. Nicole Mason
The mayoral race in New York City could have been a classic David and Goliath story: Billionaire incumbent spends 100 million only to be defeated by small time politico with few dollars and even fewer big city connections. This unlikely story might have been the case if blacks and Latinos had turned out in larger numbers on Election Day.

By Desiree Cooper
With many states considering closing their prisons in order to balance their budgets, it’s time to ratchet up the national conversation about what to do with a growing number of ex-felons, especially those who are sincerely trying to re-integrate into society

The Complexity of Progress John Payton, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund Now is the time. The progress — both symbolic and real – of the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States is stunning to contemplate. We can hear our foremothers and forefathers singing. We have watched millions of [...]

By Stacey Patton: I’m 30 years-old and on November 4th, 2008 I cast a vote for president for the first time in my life. Before then, voting didn’t seem worth it.  I fit the stereotype of Generation X – apathetic, disconnected from politics, and devoid of respect for history. It turns out, all I needed [...]