A former judge with the Superior Court of Alameda County in Oakland, California, Paul Seeman has three decades of legal experience in criminal and juvenile law, and formerly belonged to several legal associations. Paul Seeman has taken part in voter-protection efforts over the past 4 years, serving as the Nevada Democratic Party’s director of hotline services in 2016, 2018, and 2020. In this role, he managed a volunteer team that provided voter assistance and protection.
Issues regarding a US citizen’s right to vote have steadily increased since the 2013 Supreme Court ruling of Shelby County v. Holder, wherein the Supreme Court overturned Section 5 of the Voter Rights Act of 1965. This section barred jurisdictions with a discriminatory history from passing voting laws and policies until the attorney general or a three-judge district court panel approved them. The Supreme Court decision received widespread criticism based on concerns that the lack of oversight would result in these governments implementing practices and changes that would infringe on the voting rights of minorities.
The effects of this ruling became most evident during the 2018 midterm election. Many jurisdictions that Section 5 covered had introduced policies proven to create voting barriers, such as strict voter ID requirements and early voting limitations. Mass voter-registration purges and polling place closures also interfered with voting participation, especially in minority communities. For instance, voters in minority neighborhoods in Georgia encountered hours-long polling lines, and many discovered that their voter registration was purged without their knowledge.
Since then, groups like Fair Fight have emerged to push for greater voter protections. In late 2019, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) also began investing in a broad voter-protection campaign in advance of the 2020 presidential election. The DNC’s efforts involve combatting laws contributing to voter suppression, as well as filing and backing numerous lawsuits against state-level laws that restrict election participation.
Issues regarding a US citizen’s right to vote have steadily increased since the 2013 Supreme Court ruling of Shelby County v. Holder, wherein the Supreme Court overturned Section 5 of the Voter Rights Act of 1965. This section barred jurisdictions with a discriminatory history from passing voting laws and policies until the attorney general or a three-judge district court panel approved them. The Supreme Court decision received widespread criticism based on concerns that the lack of oversight would result in these governments implementing practices and changes that would infringe on the voting rights of minorities.
The effects of this ruling became most evident during the 2018 midterm election. Many jurisdictions that Section 5 covered had introduced policies proven to create voting barriers, such as strict voter ID requirements and early voting limitations. Mass voter-registration purges and polling place closures also interfered with voting participation, especially in minority communities. For instance, voters in minority neighborhoods in Georgia encountered hours-long polling lines, and many discovered that their voter registration was purged without their knowledge.
Since then, groups like Fair Fight have emerged to push for greater voter protections. In late 2019, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) also began investing in a broad voter-protection campaign in advance of the 2020 presidential election. The DNC’s efforts involve combatting laws contributing to voter suppression, as well as filing and backing numerous lawsuits against state-level laws that restrict election participation.
