State courts may be the next frontier for protecting the right to vote

This midterm cycle has been characterized by fierce debates over voter identification measures in some states that some see as restricting the rights of minorities to vote. While the Supreme Court’s decisions on state voter ID laws have been important, state courts play a significant role as well, write Joshua A. Douglas and Christopher K. Stewart. They argue that in issues such as voter ID, liberal-leaning judges are more likely to think of the right to vote in broad terms as compared to more conservative judges, as are appointed judges compared to those that are elected.