Elections

Americans want dark money out of politics. We don’t have to wait for Supreme Court.

In an op-ed published by USA Today, Tom Moore lays out a legal strategy to undo Citizens United and clamp down on the flow of dark-money spending in U.S. politics.

The Corporate Power Reset That Makes Citizens United Irrelevant

By using their authority to define what corporations are—and what powers they hold—states can end the era of corporate and dark money in U.S. politics.

Undoing Citizens United and Reining In Super PACs

By resetting corporate powers and treating super PACs like every other PAC, Congress and the states can begin to undo the damage caused by Citizens United.

Trump Ordered Texas To Gerrymander 5 New Republican-Leaning Congressional Districts—This Is How Other States Can Fight Back

An agreement to set aside redistricting commissions is needed in order to level the playing field in this redistricting arms race.

State Voting Rights Acts: Capstone

This is the final video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

State Voting Rights Acts: Voter Suppression

This is the sixth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Democracy on the Line: Global Lessons on Countering Authoritarianism

Join the Center for American Progress for a critical conversation on what it takes to defend democracy.

State Voting Rights Acts: Preclearance

This is the fourth video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

The Positive Power of Three at the FEC: Project Ripcord

Tom Moore writes in Stetson Journal of Advocacy and the Law about the role of a plan at the U.S. Federal Election Commission known as "Project Ripcord" in enforcement of federal campaign-finance law.

State Voting Rights Acts: Voter Intimidation

This is the third video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Industrial Policy Projects Boosted Harris and Hurt Trump in the 2024 Election, but Not by Much

A county-by-county analysis finds that additional IIJA, CHIPS and Science Act, and IRA investments were associated with higher vote share for Kamala Harris compared with Joe Biden and a lower vote share in 2024 for Trump compared with 2020—but the differences are slight.

The right of Coloradans to vote should be protected

In an op-ed published by Colorado Newsline, Rebecca Mears urges Colorado legislators to pass the pending state voting rights act in order to protect equitable voting access for all Coloradans and safeguard them from voting practices that lead to deeper racial disparities.

Highlights From ‘Winning the Fight for Voting Rights: State Voting Rights Acts’

The freedom to vote is under attack across the country, especially for Black voters and other voters of color. States can join the growing movement to protect the freedom to vote and remove barriers to the ballot box by enacting their own voting rights acts.

The SAVE Act: Overview and Facts

The SAVE Act would require all Americans to prove their citizenship with documentation unavailable to millions and upend the way every American citizen registers to vote.

La Ley SAVE: Resumen y Hechos

La Ley SAVE requeriría que todos los estadounidenses demuestren su ciudadanía con documentación que no está disponible para millones de ciudadanos y cambiaría la forma en que cada ciudadano estadounidense se registra para votar.

Introduction to State Voting Rights Acts

This is the first video in the “State Voting Rights Acts: Explained” video series created by the Center for American Progress and the Legal Defense Fund.

Mears: Michigan must pass its voting rights act

In an op-ed published by The Detroit News, Rebecca Mears urges Michigan lawmakers to pass their State Voting Rights Act before their congressional session ends on Thursday.

2024 Elections and the Future of Global Climate Ambition

As the 2024 elections usher in new leaders and reshuffle political power, the trajectory of climate ambition is at a crossroads, with the potential to accelerate toward meaningful progress or falter in the face of new obstacles.

The Freedom To Vote: The Power of Casting a Ballot

Stephanie Hicks’ story of re-enfranchisement in Alabama speaks to how the lives of more than 3 million disenfranchised Americans could be transformed.

A Bellwether for Trans-Atlantic Democracy: The Rise of the German Far Right

With its anti-immigrant rhetoric, skepticism of NATO, and alignment with authoritarian regimes, the AfD’s rise could destabilize both German democracy and the trans-Atlantic security order.

Election Certification: What You Need To Know

It is unlawful for election officials to act outside the law to refuse to certify election results.

The Freedom To Vote: The Pride and Empowerment That Come With the Right To Vote

Ronald McKeithen’s story of re-enfranchisement in Alabama speaks to how the lives of more than 3 million disenfranchised Americans could be transformed.

How Alabama Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Alabamians for the 2024 election.

The Freedom to Vote: How Re-enfranchisement Would Strengthen Democracy

Timothy Lanier’s story of disenfranchisement in Alabama speaks to the reality of the more than 3 million Americans who are denied their right to vote.

How the Freedom to Vote Act Could Have Changed the 2024 Election

In an op-ed published by Democracy Docket, Greta Bedekovics illustrates how significantly the Freedom to Vote Act could have changed this year’s elections for the better if it had not been blocked by the filibuster in 2022.

How West Virginia Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for thousands of West Virginians for the 2024 election.

How North Carolina Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of North Carolinians for the 2024 election.

How Delaware Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Delawareans for the 2024 election.

How Kentucky Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Kentuckians for the 2024 election.

How the Biden-Harris Administration Is Ensuring Voting Accessibility

Disabled voters face significant barriers to voting, which the Biden-Harris administration has taken significant action to address.

How Wisconsin Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Wisconsinites for the 2024 election.

How Florida Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Floridians for the 2024 election.

How Ohio Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Ohioans for the 2024 election.

How Texas Elections Would Look Different if the Freedom to Vote Act Had Been Enacted

Passage of the Freedom to Vote Act would have expanded access to voter registration and the ballot box for millions of Texans for the 2024 election.

Pass the Freedom to Vote Act: How Elections Would Look Different This Year and in the Future

Key voting rights legislation that Congress has been working to pass for years would have transformed election administration and security across the country ahead of the 2024 election cycle and guaranteed all Americans easy access to the ballot box.

A Roadmap To Ensure All Americans Are Effectively Represented by Their Government

A commonsense and bold set of reforms can build a strong democracy for the 21st century and a government that is responsive to everyday people.

Democracies Deliver Better Economic Opportunities, Rights, and Health for Their People

7 Reasons Americans Should Care About Their Democracy

Core shared values are foundational to a strong American democracy that reflects the will of the people.

Government Is Failing Many Americans, But Rejecting Democracy Is Not the Answer

The solution to an unresponsive democracy is not replacing it with autocracy, but instead building a stronger system answerable to the people.

An American Democracy Built for the People: Why Democracy Matters and How To Make It Work for the 21st Century

Although democracy is failing to meet the needs of many Americans, it is far preferable to an autocratic system, and it can be modernized with a compelling set of reforms.

Reforming Elections for a Better Democracy: Alaska as a Case Study

This video about Alaska’s “Final Four” election system brings together Alaskan legislative leaders from across the aisle to discuss how this system works and early results indicating this reform can create a more representative democracy, decrease polarization, and help incentivize consensus building and more bipartisan governing.

Gen Z Voters Could Determine the Outcome of the 2024 Elections If They Turn Out

In an op-ed published in Teen Vogue, Rebecca Mears describes how young voters ages 18 to 24 have the power to shape the course of the 2024 presidential election.

Fact Sheet: Local School Board Elections Matter

Local school boards help shape their communities, yet few people show up to their elections.

5 Reasons To Pay Attention to Local School Board Elections

As voters prepare for election season, they should not discount the importance of their local school boards.

The Power of One Vote

Elections help determine the quality of the air Americans breathe, the water they drink, and everything else in between; and more often than people realize, these elections come down to just a handful of votes.

Project 2025 Is Already a Reality in Many States

Here are examples of how some states are already working to implement the extreme policies outlined in Project 2025.

CAP Comment on the FCC’s Proposed Rule for the Disclosure of AI-Generated Content in Political and Issue Ads

The Center for American Progress submitted a comment to the Federal Communications Commission explaining that the FCC’s proposed rule aligns with existing policies and practices.

Practical Steps To Build Strong Political Norms and Stop Political Violence

As American democracy faces significant challenges, people must work together to help set healthy political norms and reject a culture that allows political violence to flourish.

Trump v. United States: A Foundation for Authoritarian Actions an American President Can Now Commit with Impunity

The majority of the Supreme Court granted presidents an unprecedented amount of power, with far-reaching consequences for the American system of government and democracy itself.

The Minimum Wage Is a Poverty Wage

The federal minimum wage has lost the ability to keep workers out of poverty; but this November, voters in multiple states will have the chance to ensure better wages.

The Supreme Court Has Fully Embraced an Antidemocratic, Right-Wing Agenda

The Supreme Court has taken off its mask this term by creating unconstitutional de facto immunity for future presidents who act illegally and by gutting the ability of public agencies and Congress to protect Americans from abuse by right-wing special interests.

Project 2025 Would Eliminate Head Start, Severely Restricting Access to Child Care in Rural America

If enacted, the elimination of Head Start would undermine economic growth and exacerbate inequalities among families with young children.

Democracy at a Crossroads: A Q&A About Free and Fair Elections With EAC Chairman Benjamin Hovland

As America’s election system continues to face formidable challenges, Chairman Benjamin Hovland of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission again shares his views with CAP about ways to respond.

Taking Further Agency Action on AI

This joint report from Governing for Impact and the Center for American Progress maps select agencies’ existing statutory authority to protect consumers, workers, and families from potential artificial intelligence harms.

The Far Right’s Invitation for Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

U.S. elections belong in the hands of the American people alone, but the far right is trying to roll back foreign interference protections and allow adversaries to tip the scales in elections.

New Jersey voters have fewer protections than New Yorkers. It’s time to fix that.

Rebecca Mears argues in the New Jersey Monitor why the state of New Jersey should pass its own voting rights act.

Amid 2024 Global Elections, Mexico’s Is Most Important for the United States

While the defense of democracy in the United States remains the existential task at hand for Americans, we must also help our southern neighbor stand up for democracy to ensure the vibrancy, peace, and prosperity of North America.

CAP Authors Letter to Meta Addressing CrowdTangle Shutdown Concerns

The Center for American Progress and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue co-authored a sign-on letter to Meta executives urging them to delay the closure of CrowdTangle amid the U.S. election cycle and given a lack of features in the tool’s replacement.

The Protection of Voting Rights Requires State Action

As legislation on voting rights awaits action in Congress—and states continue to pass restrictive, discriminatory voting policies and the courts strip federal voter protections—states must step up and protect the right to vote.

Free Speech or Free Rein? How Murthy v. Missouri Became a Soapbox for Misinformation Advocacy

The U.S. Supreme Court case Murthy v. Missouri has significant national security implications and could hamstring private and public efforts to combat disinformation.

Opinion: Make all votes count under national popular vote bill

In an op-ed for The Detroit News, Patrick Gaspard and co-author Stephen Silberstein urge Michigan policymakers to pass the National Popular Vote bill.

2024 Hawaii Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Hawaii Senate in support of S.B. 3243, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

Taiwan’s Election: PRC Interference and Its Implications for the 2024 Election Landscape

The Democratic Progressive Party’s triumph in Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election signals Taiwan’s resilience against the People’s Republic of China’s coordinated and intense interference efforts; but it also accentuates the critical need for nations worldwide to formulate robust strategies against escalating threats of interference, thereby safeguarding the integrity of global democratic processes.

2024 Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Washington State House in support of H.B. 1885, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

DeSantis’ Lackluster Campaign Unleashed Campaign Finance’s Nightmare Scenario

In an op-ed for TPM, Tom Moore explains how Ron DeSantis’ campaign failures may have opened the door for an even bigger disaster in the form of an alarming loophole in federal campaign finance law.

Point: Confronting the Stain of an Insurrection on American Democracy

Greta Bedekovics writes in "DC Journal" about the January 6 insurrection.

8 Ways To Protect American Democracy

To safeguard American democracy, it is important to both protect elections in 2024 and address systemic issues to protect those in the future.

Is Alaska the Secret to Saving American Democracy?

How Electoral System Reform Can Reduce Polarization, Increase Voters’ Choices, and Incentivize Bipartisan Policymaking

Threats From Political Minority Rule in Wisconsin and North Carolina

Partisan legislators in Wisconsin and North Carolina are aggressively erecting anti-democracy barriers to lock out a growing political majority and hinder America’s progress.

Election denialism nearly shattered our democracy. Meta’s allowing it anyway.

Megan Shahi writes in The Hill about Meta’s updated ad policy, which allows for election denial content in paid political ads.

Trump and His Allies Are Starting To Face Accountability for Their Plot To Overturn the 2020 Presidential Election

The justice system is beginning to bring a measure of accountability for the events surrounding the unconstitutional conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election—a welcome development for the rule of law.

Protecting Democracy Online in 2024 and Beyond

A series of high-profile global elections in 2024 will require social media platforms and generative AI developers to meet the moment amid an evolving and uncertain technology landscape.

Guatemala’s Election Result Is a First Step in the Right Direction

However, the long transition period presents a risk to Bernardo Arévalo and Guatemala’s fragile democracy.

9 Ways the Freedom to Vote Act Would Strengthen Democracy

This transformative federal legislation would bolster democracy by expanding the right to vote, combating corruption, and reducing dangerous political extremism.

Supreme Court’s Decision in Moore v. Harper Is a Win for Democracy, But Some Questions Remain Unanswered

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a maximalist interpretation of the independent state legislature theory while leaving the door open for future litigation.

Foreign-influenced corporations must stop meddling in domestic affairs

Gordon Laxer and Michael Sozan write about how discussion on foreign-influenced corporations' political spending in the United States can inform Canada's policies on the matter.

Nationwide Momentum Grows To Stop Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

This people-powered policy helps protect U.S. democracy and rests on strong legal foundation.

How Michigan Became a Blueprint for Strengthening Democracy

Despite an increasingly partisan national landscape, Michigan has implemented key voting and representation reforms and set a trailblazing example for transformative change, largely due to citizen-initiated constitutional amendments.

Trump and His Allies Must Be Held Accountable for the January 6 Insurrection

Without full accountability for the events surrounding the unconstitutional plot to overturn the 2020 presidential election, U.S. democracy remains under substantial threat.

Prominent Conservatives Warn About Dangerous Potential Repercussions of Moore v. Harper

Conservative experts are sending sharp warnings that the meritless independent state legislature theory could undermine democracy and should be rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts.

Washington Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Washington State House in support of S.B. 5284, a bill that would strengthen campaign-related spending disclosure requirements and limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

Hawaii Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Hawaii Senate in support of S.B. 1179, a bill that would limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

California Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the California State Assembly in support of A.B. 83, a bill that would limit political spending by U.S. corporations with appreciable foreign ownership.

It’s Time To Talk About Electoral Reform

To fix the dysfunction in American politics, reformers should consider fundamental changes to the electoral rules.

Minnesota Bill Would Limit Political Spending by Foreign-Influenced U.S. Corporations

Michael Sozan, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, filed written testimony before the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Committee on Elections Finance and Policy in support of H.F. 117, a bill to stop political spending by foreign-influenced U.S. corporations.

Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Moore v. Harper Discredit Election Theory That Could Undermine Democracy

Litigants’ oral arguments, along with questions from Supreme Court justices, revealed that the independent state legislature theory is meritless and should be rejected.

Supreme Court Decision in Moore v. Harper Could Harm Free and Fair Elections

This video explainer details the facts behind the Moore v. Harper case, its underlying arguments, and the harmful consequences for democracy if the Supreme Court's conservative majority overlooks history and precedent.

9 Ways the Supreme Court’s Decision in Moore v. Harper Could Harm Democracy

If the Supreme Court’s extreme conservative majority adopts the discredited independent state legislature theory, it could pose a huge setback for free and fair elections.

Election Deniers Lost Key Races for Federal and State Offices in the 2022 Midterm Elections

Candidates who questioned or denied the outcome of the 2020 presidential election lost key races in the midterms as voters across the country elected pro-democracy candidates.

U.S. Election Funding: 5 Myths Debunked

Here are the reasons why state spending of federal election funding is significant, why some states are not spending it as quickly as some policymakers want, and why Congress must continue to invest in funding federal elections.

Elections Must Be Secure and Accessible for All in the Wake of Natural Disasters and Events

Hurricane Ian was just the latest in a series of natural disasters and events that have disrupted elections; it’s past time we make elections climate resistant.

Social Media and the 2022 Midterm Elections: Anticipating Online Threats to Democratic Legitimacy

Social media companies continue to allow attacks on U.S. democracy to proliferate on their platforms, undermining election legitimacy, fueling hate and violence, and sowing chaos.

Finding Common Ground to Address Threats to Our Elections

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual event that will assess the current threats to our elections, analyze what state officials are doing to address the issues, and explore how Americans can come together to safeguard our democracy.

A Legislative Proposal To Help Safeguard Elections

CAP’s new proposal can help a polarized Congress come together to protect democracy.

Issues Potentially Affecting the 2022 Midterm Elections

This CAP memo outlines how to address challenges affecting the 2022 elections.

Protecting Election Workers and Officials From Threats and Harassment During the Midterms

As the 2022 general election gets underway, it’s critical that those on the front lines of our democracy—election workers and officials—are able to safely and effectively do their jobs to ensure that voters can cast ballots and that elections are freely and fairly administered.