The Court v. the Voters

An urgent and gripping look at the erosion of voting rights and its implications for democracy, told through consequential Supreme Court decisions

In The Court Vs. The Vote, law professor Joshua Douglas looks back at ten landmark cases in voting rights—some surprising and unknown and some familiar—to investigate the historic crossroads that have changed our elections, and therefore the nation, irrevocably. In crisp and accessible prose, Douglas tells the story of each case, sheds light on the intractable election problems we face today and highlights the unique role the highest court has played in shaping not only our elections but the nature of the right to vote.

Douglas charts infamous cases like Bush v. Gore, which opened the door to many election law claims, to the campaign finance case of Citizens United, revealing how it has contributed to skewed representation—but perhaps not in the way you might think. He also digs deeper through earlier cases, from the 70s and 80s, to understand why the Court blesses restrictive state voting rules without much oversight and places a heavy burden on voters who seek to exercise their fundamental rights.

The Court Vs. The Vote powerfully reminds us of the tangible, real-world effects from the Court’s voting rights decisions. Ultimately, Douglas reveals how numerous Supreme Court cases, one building on the next, have produced a broken electoral system. And, while we can—and should—lament the democracy that might have been, we can—and should—double down in our efforts to protect the right to vote, the most fundamental and vital right in our democracy.