The Future of the Voting Rights Act

Sponsored by the New America Foundation and FairVote.

On June 22, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its much-anticipated voting rights ruling in the NAMUDNO case (Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Holder). Many long-time experts are sifting through the decision to understand the broad implications for the future of voting rights protections and minority representation in the United States.

In addition, ongoing demographic shifts in our national mosaic are creating more situations where alternatives to single-seat districts, including proportional voting methods, may be necessary to ensure diverse representation. This is an opportune time to renew the national conversation about the future of voting rights.

The New America Foundation is joining with longtime fair elections advocates FairVote to organize "The Future of the Voting Rights Act" in which some of the nation's top voting rights experts will come together to review NAMUDNO and its impacts, and think more expansively about voting rights and representation.

Agenda

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Coffee and light breakfast

9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Welcome

Steven Hill
Director, Political Reform Program, New America Foundation

9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
The Supreme Court and Minority Voting Rights: A Discussion of NAMUDNO and Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

The Hon. Jamin Raskin
State Senator, (D-MD 20)
Director of the Law and Government Program, Washington College of Law

Edward Hailes
Senior Attorney, The Advancement Project

Kristen Clarke
Co-director, Political Participation Group of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Nathaniel Persily
Charles Keller Beekman Professor of Law and Political Science, Columbia Law School

Lisa Bornstein
Senior Counsel, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights

Moderator
Rob Richie
Executive Director, FairVote - The Center for Voting and Democracy

10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Break

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 pm
After NAMUDNO: Fair Representation in a Changing America

Myrna Pérez
Brennan Center, Counsel on Democracy

Jon Greenbaum
Legal Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Jason Harris
Legislative Director for Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL)

Steven Mulroy
Associate Professor of Law, University of Memphis School of Law
Shelby County Board of Commissioners

Michael McDonald
Associate Professor of Government and Politics, George Mason University
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution

Amy Ngai
Director, Program for Representative Government, FairVote

Moderator
Steven Hill
Director, Political Reform Program, New America Foundation