An American Problem: The Rise and Fall of the Voting Rights Act

In 1965, the passage of the Voting Rights Act marked a historic step toward ensuring that Americans of all races and ethnicities could fully participate in the democratic process. Nearly five decades later, the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder struck down a key provision of the landmark law, fundamentally changing the federal government’s role in protecting voting rights. What did the Shelby County decision mean for voting rights in America, and what has happened since?

Join the Goldman School and Social Science Matrix for a discussion with Kevin Morris, senior research fellow and voting policy scholar at the Brennan Center for Justice, on the history of the Voting Rights Act, the role of the Supreme Court, and the current state of voting rights across the United States.

Morris co-authored the book, An American Problem: How the Country Built—and the Supreme Court Broke—the Voting Rights Act, with Michael G. Miller. The first 30 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book.

This event is part of the Goldman School of Public Policy’s Democracy Book Club series, which features authors whose work enriches our understanding of democracy by examining the institutions, policies, and civic traditions that shape democratic life.