Jenessa Seymour
@jenessaseymour.bsky.social
Follow for voting rights and disability law updates, with a focus on NY election law.
Disability voting access advocate, NY Attorney, PhD in neuroscience, former college professor. Posting in my personal capacity, not on behalf of any organization.
Disability voting access advocate, NY Attorney, PhD in neuroscience, former college professor. Posting in my personal capacity, not on behalf of any organization.
Our coverage of Louisiana v Callais & Clarke v Newburgh oral arguments. Sorry to say I’m not optimistic. We may be able to preserve pieces of NY law, but it’s possible we’ll hear that no State can protect its own voters, let alone federal.
Browser link: directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Apple:
Browser link: directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Apple:
They’re Going to End the Voting Rights Act. But at Least We Got to Hear KBJ Murder a Guy in Court
Podcast Episode · Opening Arguments · 10/17/2025 · 1h 4m
podcasts.apple.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Our coverage of Louisiana v Callais & Clarke v Newburgh oral arguments. Sorry to say I’m not optimistic. We may be able to preserve pieces of NY law, but it’s possible we’ll hear that no State can protect its own voters, let alone federal.
Browser link: directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Apple:
Browser link: directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Apple:
This week’s @openargs.bsky.social I cover how states can ensure access to vaccines, despite the CDC & FDA bs. Vaccines save lives, especially for people w/ disabilities.
Overcast (below)
Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Browser
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Or any podcast player
Overcast (below)
Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Browser
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Or any podcast player
The Kirkstag Fire — Opening Arguments
OA1191 - In today’s Rapid Response Friday, we examine some of the legal questions raised as the Trump administration throws as much political capital as possible behind the recent assassination of Tur...
overcast.fm
September 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
This week’s @openargs.bsky.social I cover how states can ensure access to vaccines, despite the CDC & FDA bs. Vaccines save lives, especially for people w/ disabilities.
Overcast (below)
Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Browser
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Or any podcast player
Overcast (below)
Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Browser
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Or any podcast player
Today’s @openargs.bsky.social redistricting in TX, why NY probably won’t join that fight, Trump’s on his bs again about absentee ballots, changes to immigration standards, & a trademarks case
Check it out on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Or Overcast (not a sponsor, just my fav player):
Check it out on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Or Overcast (not a sponsor, just my fav player):
Republicans Are Messing with Texas — Opening Arguments
OA1184 - The saying pretty explicitly tells us to don’t, and yet here they are not don’ting. This week on Rapid Response Friday: why is a Texas lawmaker filing a habeas petition asking a federal court...
overcast.fm
August 22, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Today’s @openargs.bsky.social redistricting in TX, why NY probably won’t join that fight, Trump’s on his bs again about absentee ballots, changes to immigration standards, & a trademarks case
Check it out on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Or Overcast (not a sponsor, just my fav player):
Check it out on Apple:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/o...
Or Overcast (not a sponsor, just my fav player):
The EO on homelessness is cruel, not evidence-based, and will hit major legal challenges. Learn more on episode 1180 of @openargs.bsky.social
Browser link:
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Browser link:
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Why the Whole Alligator Alcatraz Thing Is Somehow Worse Than It Sounds
Podcast Episode · Opening Arguments · 08/08/2025 · 1h 1m
podcasts.apple.com
August 11, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The EO on homelessness is cruel, not evidence-based, and will hit major legal challenges. Learn more on episode 1180 of @openargs.bsky.social
Browser link:
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Browser link:
directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde...
Harm-reduction is evidence-based. Housing-first is evidence-based. Involuntary commitment is supposed to be a temporary last resort to save lives, not a back door to imprison people indefinitely without trial or representation. The new ugly laws: So rich people don’t have to see what they’ve done
Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose and
www.whitehouse.gov
July 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Harm-reduction is evidence-based. Housing-first is evidence-based. Involuntary commitment is supposed to be a temporary last resort to save lives, not a back door to imprison people indefinitely without trial or representation. The new ugly laws: So rich people don’t have to see what they’ve done
AJT v Osseo just a solid good decision. Thomas concurrence predictably awful, invites new challenger to dismantle the ADA. Kavanaugh signing on to it is concerning. Sotomayor concurrence was exceptional.
Hear me explain the case and discuss how the oral arguments got spicy on @openargs.bsky.social
Hear me explain the case and discuss how the oral arguments got spicy on @openargs.bsky.social
When You're So Bad At Your Job, You Make the Supreme Court Look Good By Comparison
OA1171 - Today's episode is a nice, fun departure from the doom and gloom. Oral arguments in a recent SCOTUS case went terribly wrong. And for once, it wasn't the court itself that was looking like a ...
directory.libsyn.com
July 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
AJT v Osseo just a solid good decision. Thomas concurrence predictably awful, invites new challenger to dismantle the ADA. Kavanaugh signing on to it is concerning. Sotomayor concurrence was exceptional.
Hear me explain the case and discuss how the oral arguments got spicy on @openargs.bsky.social
Hear me explain the case and discuss how the oral arguments got spicy on @openargs.bsky.social
Lawsuit in Rockland County NY is all over social media, but the claims of voter fraud just don’t add up… literally. In Part 1 @seriouspod.bsky.social and I cover the legal/sociopolitical problems with the case… after venting about why election fraud claims just suck in general 😂. Part 2 is math!
SIO484: Lawsuit Alleges Voting Irregularities in 2024. Is There Any There There?
Part 1: The Legal Stuff Dr. Jenessa Seymour is here to break down something that even our moms are spreading on social media: a group in New York claims to have uncovered discrepancies in the vote cou...
directory.libsyn.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Lawsuit in Rockland County NY is all over social media, but the claims of voter fraud just don’t add up… literally. In Part 1 @seriouspod.bsky.social and I cover the legal/sociopolitical problems with the case… after venting about why election fraud claims just suck in general 😂. Part 2 is math!
New York: Today’s the day! Primary elections are happening in most jurisdictions, 6am - 9pm. It is hot hot hot out there, so bring water, sunscreen, umbrella, etc. It is legal to hand out water to those on line, just no campaign logos! If you experience an accessibility barrier, document it!
June 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New York: Today’s the day! Primary elections are happening in most jurisdictions, 6am - 9pm. It is hot hot hot out there, so bring water, sunscreen, umbrella, etc. It is legal to hand out water to those on line, just no campaign logos! If you experience an accessibility barrier, document it!
NY: Today is the LAST DAY TO REGISTER for primaries & 1st day of early voting! Outside NYC you can vote at any polling place in your County. In the 5 boroughs your polling place is assigned. Look-up polling places at this link.
Voter Search Screen for VoterLookUp
voterlookup.elections.ny.gov
June 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
NY: Today is the LAST DAY TO REGISTER for primaries & 1st day of early voting! Outside NYC you can vote at any polling place in your County. In the 5 boroughs your polling place is assigned. Look-up polling places at this link.
David Geier, chosen to study autism at HHS, isn’t just an unqualified pseudoscience promoter, uncommitted to truth. He’s a monster. & no, these facts from Board of Physicians weren’t overturned, per RFK Jrs contortions
Hear me rage about it w/ @seriouspod.bsky.social @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social
Hear me rage about it w/ @seriouspod.bsky.social @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social
Where There's Woke: WTW84: RFK’s Choice to Head Autism Study? A Total Fraud Who Abused Autistic Kids While Posing as a Doctor
Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. and his second-in-command, Mr. Brain Worm, have appointed a real piece of work to lead the supposed "autism study" that HHS is conducting; and we had to cal...
sites.libsyn.com
June 1, 2025 at 3:44 PM
David Geier, chosen to study autism at HHS, isn’t just an unqualified pseudoscience promoter, uncommitted to truth. He’s a monster. & no, these facts from Board of Physicians weren’t overturned, per RFK Jrs contortions
Hear me rage about it w/ @seriouspod.bsky.social @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social
Hear me rage about it w/ @seriouspod.bsky.social @seriouslydiaonly.bsky.social
NY get ready for the primaries! Local elections only (odd year). Local politics impact your life every day. Roads, sidewalks, utilities, parks, policing, budgets… and then the coroner for some reason.
Election Day: June 24
Early Voting: June 14-22
Last day to register: June 14
Election Day: June 24
Early Voting: June 14-22
Last day to register: June 14
May 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
NY get ready for the primaries! Local elections only (odd year). Local politics impact your life every day. Roads, sidewalks, utilities, parks, policing, budgets… and then the coroner for some reason.
Election Day: June 24
Early Voting: June 14-22
Last day to register: June 14
Election Day: June 24
Early Voting: June 14-22
Last day to register: June 14
NC election case ended about as well as it could have. The obvious winner won, and a federal court (eventually) held that “no you cannot in fact change the voter eligibility rules for an election after the election, can’t believe I have to say this”. That this was ever up for debate should worry you
May 21, 2025 at 12:24 PM
NC election case ended about as well as it could have. The obvious winner won, and a federal court (eventually) held that “no you cannot in fact change the voter eligibility rules for an election after the election, can’t believe I have to say this”. That this was ever up for debate should worry you
NY today 05/20 Most school districts vote for school board seats & budget. May also have library board & budget on same ballot. The contingency budget (if you vote no) saves you like $100 for the entire year, but adds up to huge cuts for the district, so yes on the budget is pretty obvious to me
May 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
NY today 05/20 Most school districts vote for school board seats & budget. May also have library board & budget on same ballot. The contingency budget (if you vote no) saves you like $100 for the entire year, but adds up to huge cuts for the district, so yes on the budget is pretty obvious to me
New York: Most school districts and libraries will have their board and budget elections May 20. Make sure you’re registered, and request an absentee or early mail ballot ASAP if desired. You will need to work with your board of *education* not the board of elections for this one.
May 5, 2025 at 2:36 AM
New York: Most school districts and libraries will have their board and budget elections May 20. Make sure you’re registered, and request an absentee or early mail ballot ASAP if desired. You will need to work with your board of *education* not the board of elections for this one.
The horror of the NC Supreme Court case cannot be overstated. Don’t be deceived by headlines focused on all the votes that won’t be challenged b/c Supreme Court ruled less terribly than Appeals Court. They’re still changing the rules for eligibility & proving ID *retroactively* without oral argument
Federal judge orders NC Supreme Court election plan to proceed
A federal judge has ordered the North Carolina State Board of Elections to proceed with a plan the state Supreme Court set out for resolving an election dispute over a seat on the state’s high court. ...
www.carolinajournal.com
April 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
The horror of the NC Supreme Court case cannot be overstated. Don’t be deceived by headlines focused on all the votes that won’t be challenged b/c Supreme Court ruled less terribly than Appeals Court. They’re still changing the rules for eligibility & proving ID *retroactively* without oral argument
Impossible to do full fact check in 300 characters but debate today full of lies. Claims of “non-citizen voting” almost always *possible* non-citizens who have *never* voted registered b/c of others’ mistakes. Real votes by confirmed non-citizens? The thousands cited falls to tens over entire States
6 facts about false noncitizen voting claims and the election
All the available evidence suggests that a miniscule number of noncitizens vote illegally in federal elections and not in numbers that would sway the outcome of any race.
www.npr.org
April 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Impossible to do full fact check in 300 characters but debate today full of lies. Claims of “non-citizen voting” almost always *possible* non-citizens who have *never* voted registered b/c of others’ mistakes. Real votes by confirmed non-citizens? The thousands cited falls to tens over entire States
SAVE Act passes House. B/c it was introduced as a “closed rule” w/ other bills & resolutions, amendments to reduced the harm couldn’t be voted on, saving R’s embarrassment of going on record voting no.
Senate could end filibuster at any time, & this would likely pass if only 50 votes were required.
Senate could end filibuster at any time, & this would likely pass if only 50 votes were required.
U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators
www.senate.gov
April 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
SAVE Act passes House. B/c it was introduced as a “closed rule” w/ other bills & resolutions, amendments to reduced the harm couldn’t be voted on, saving R’s embarrassment of going on record voting no.
Senate could end filibuster at any time, & this would likely pass if only 50 votes were required.
Senate could end filibuster at any time, & this would likely pass if only 50 votes were required.
04/07 Congressional Black Caucus spoke on education. GA-7 Rep McBath on the discontinuation of a disability education program affecting multiple States. 8:25:52.
Clyburn, CS-6, also gave a moving speech on diversity and education, including his experience with integration in the South. 8:00:35.
Clyburn, CS-6, also gave a moving speech on diversity and education, including his experience with integration in the South. 8:00:35.
US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, April 7, 2025)
YouTube video by US House Clerk
m.youtube.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:03 PM
04/07 Congressional Black Caucus spoke on education. GA-7 Rep McBath on the discontinuation of a disability education program affecting multiple States. 8:25:52.
Clyburn, CS-6, also gave a moving speech on diversity and education, including his experience with integration in the South. 8:00:35.
Clyburn, CS-6, also gave a moving speech on diversity and education, including his experience with integration in the South. 8:00:35.
04/01 the weirdest House debate: H. Res. 228. A motion to consider multiple motions, resolutions, and bills, including the SAVE Act, and a motion to somehow prevent the proxy voting rule for new parents in the House ever being voted on. Proxy voting had wide bipartisan support and cosponsors. /1
www.congress.gov
April 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
04/01 the weirdest House debate: H. Res. 228. A motion to consider multiple motions, resolutions, and bills, including the SAVE Act, and a motion to somehow prevent the proxy voting rule for new parents in the House ever being voted on. Proxy voting had wide bipartisan support and cosponsors. /1
Please don’t let this rain on your well-deserved Wisconsin victory parade, but the drastic ticket splitting in favor of voter-ID is so disappointing. Possible messaging to those convinced we need voter-ID: A push for free *automatically issued* ID. Lessens the harm and demonstrates the problem?
April 2, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Please don’t let this rain on your well-deserved Wisconsin victory parade, but the drastic ticket splitting in favor of voter-ID is so disappointing. Possible messaging to those convinced we need voter-ID: A push for free *automatically issued* ID. Lessens the harm and demonstrates the problem?
Biden admin: Lets fund addiction treatment, and crack down on shipments at border crossings.
Trump: It would be cheaper if you were dead
We made so much progress on substance use disorders. The last thing we need when people are losing jobs, resources, and hope, is nowhere to turn for help.
Trump: It would be cheaper if you were dead
We made so much progress on substance use disorders. The last thing we need when people are losing jobs, resources, and hope, is nowhere to turn for help.
Trump team revokes $11 billion in funding for addiction, mental health care
The Trump administration says it hopes to save $11.4 billion by freezing and revoking COVID-era grants. Addiction experts say clawing back the federal funding is risky and could put patients at risk.
www.npr.org
March 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Biden admin: Lets fund addiction treatment, and crack down on shipments at border crossings.
Trump: It would be cheaper if you were dead
We made so much progress on substance use disorders. The last thing we need when people are losing jobs, resources, and hope, is nowhere to turn for help.
Trump: It would be cheaper if you were dead
We made so much progress on substance use disorders. The last thing we need when people are losing jobs, resources, and hope, is nowhere to turn for help.
New EO basically the SAVE Act. Not legal, but I worry States will take excuse to use their real authority to administer elections to engage in severe voter ID crack downs. Never hurts to bring ID to polls. If you can help others get ID, it’s time. League of Women Voters 1 option to spread awareness
Trump seeks to mandate proof of citizenship in voter registration
The order tests the power of Trump's authority and would require voters using a federal form to show proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It's sure to be tested in court.
www.npr.org
March 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
New EO basically the SAVE Act. Not legal, but I worry States will take excuse to use their real authority to administer elections to engage in severe voter ID crack downs. Never hurts to bring ID to polls. If you can help others get ID, it’s time. League of Women Voters 1 option to spread awareness
Check out my appearance on @openargs.bsky.social about Section 504. Call your State AG and ask them why they signed on to a lawsuit that explicitly calls the most important disability rights protections unconstitutional. TX, AK, AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, IA, KS, LA, MO, MT, NE, SC, SD, UT, WV. No excuses.
How One Lawsuit Targeting Trans Rights Could Undermine Disability Protections for Everyone
OA1141 - Are Republican AGs really trying to have some of the most important federal protections for disability rights declared unconstitutional? Attorney Jenessa Seymour joins to explain the history ...
directory.libsyn.com
March 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Check out my appearance on @openargs.bsky.social about Section 504. Call your State AG and ask them why they signed on to a lawsuit that explicitly calls the most important disability rights protections unconstitutional. TX, AK, AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, IA, KS, LA, MO, MT, NE, SC, SD, UT, WV. No excuses.
Decision out of NY’s highest court in Fossella v Adams: non-citizens cannot vote in municipal elections (a small but growing practice in other states). This is based solely on the text of the NYS Constitution and does not affect other States.
New York state's top court blocks New York City law to allow noncitizen voting
Most of the court's progressive judges sided with Republicans who sought to nix the law.
www.politico.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Decision out of NY’s highest court in Fossella v Adams: non-citizens cannot vote in municipal elections (a small but growing practice in other states). This is based solely on the text of the NYS Constitution and does not affect other States.
Check out my appearance on @openargs.bsky.social to hear more about the SAVE Act. Ultimately Democrats don’t have the votes to stop it on their own, but peeling off 2 Republicans in the House should not be out of reach if Dems hold the line. Call your Representatives!!
The SAVE Act Could Disenfranchise Millions of Voters. Democrats Must Stop It.
Brought to you by Trade Coffee! Get 40% off your first order with Trade at OA1136 and T3BE62- Matt swings by a Wednesday episode, and we welcome Dr. Jenessa Seymour as well! Jenessa is a disability v...
directory.libsyn.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Check out my appearance on @openargs.bsky.social to hear more about the SAVE Act. Ultimately Democrats don’t have the votes to stop it on their own, but peeling off 2 Republicans in the House should not be out of reach if Dems hold the line. Call your Representatives!!