Sophia Lin Lakin
slakin.bsky.social
Sophia Lin Lakin
@slakin.bsky.social
director, @aclu.bsky.social voting rights project. #leapdaybaby. all the usual disclaimers.
Missouri’s unconstitutional mid-decade redistricting carves up Kansas City, submerging metro voters into rural districts & dividing neighborhoods along racial lines. @aclu.org @aclumo.bsky.social @campaignlegal.org are suing to stop this mid-decade this power grab.
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Sep 12
BREAKING: We're suing to stop Missouri from implementing new congressional district lines that violate the state constitution.

Lawmakers are caving to President Trump's demands by pushing this unconstitutional map. Voters must choose their representatives, not the other way around.
September 13, 2025 at 3:42 AM
This ruling rights a historic injustice: For over a century, Mississippi’s Supreme Court district lines systematically diluted Black voting power, ensuring that in a state that’s 40% Black, only four Black justices total have ever served on the state’s highest court. @arisavitzky.bsky.social
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Aug 19
BREAKING: A federal court ruled that Mississippi’s Supreme Court district lines must be redrawn to ensure Black people in the state don't have their voting power diluted.
August 19, 2025 at 11:32 PM
NEW: We're suing for transparency about the federal government's use of data to target voters. Federal agencies created a nationwide citizenship database for list maintenance, but won't explain how it works or how the data is used. The public deserves to know how these programs affect voting rights.
ACLU, Journalists File Lawsuit to Assess Federal Government’s Use of Data to Target Voters | American Civil Liberties Union
NEW YORK — The ACLU, on behalf of itself and two journalists, has filed a lawsuit to enforce the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests sent to...
www.aclu.org
August 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Can’t stop, won’t stop when it comes to protecting #votingrights: Along with @nativerights.bsky.social & @aclu-mt.bsky.social, we’re challenging Chouteau County’s unfair method for electing commissioners, which deprives Native voters the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Aug 15
NEW: We're suing to challenge the unfair system for electing commissioners in Chouteau County, Montana.

Under the current at-large system, everyone in the county votes for all 3 commissioners, instead of voting by district. This leaves Native voters unable to elect a candidate of their choice.
August 15, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
Today’s win sends a powerful message that the Voting Rights Act is still a vital safeguard against racial discrimination in our democracy.
August 14, 2025 at 10:47 PM
This is a historic affirmation for Black voters in Louisiana & sends a powerful msg: The VRA is still a vital safeguard against discrimination in our democracy. Grateful to our clients & incredibly proud of the @aclu.org team leading the case & co-counsel, incl ACLU LA, @legaldefensefund.bsky.social
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Aug 14
BREAKING: A federal appeals court affirmed that Louisiana's state legislative districts dilute the power of Black voters and must be redrawn.
August 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
Georgia politicians criminalized giving food and water to voters who are waiting in long lines to cast their ballot.

We were in court today fighting to maintain our block on this ridiculous rule.
August 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
Texas legislators are openly using a special session to redraw voting maps in their favor at the expense of voters of color, instead of getting disaster relief to flood victims.

This race to the bottom erodes our democracy, regardless of which party benefits.
Texas just opened Pandora’s box, and voters everywhere could pay the price - The Boston Globe
Tit-for-tat redistricting escalation is exactly what our democratic system cannot afford.
www.bostonglobe.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:35 PM
As the VRA Act turns 60, its legacy is under siege. The heroes of Selma couldn't have imagined that 60 years later, we'd still be shoring up the pillar of democracy that they built. But they also couldn't have imagined we'd let it fall. We won't. We can't. The democracy it supports depends on it.
The Voting Rights Act at 60: A Legacy in Jeopardy, a Democracy at Risk | ACLU
As the Voting Rights Act turns 60, its legacy is under siege—from courts, lawmakers, and a government retreating from enforcement. The battle to preserve it is now a fight for the future of democracy ...
www.aclu.org
August 8, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
BREAKING: A federal court ruled that Alabama's 2023 congressional map discriminates against Black voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act and Constitution.

This is a win for voting rights.
May 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Come join the fight! The @aclu.org Voting Rights Project is hiring a paralegal to join our team. Please share widely!

www.aclu.org/careers/appl...
Careers at ACLU
Join our team! We’re looking for committed, passionate people for open roles at the ACLU.
www.aclu.org
May 1, 2025 at 6:27 PM
We won! A federal court has blocked the EAC from implementing a mandate in the president’s (anti) voting EO to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal form while the case proceeds. Huge congrats to all involved! @aclu.org @aclu-dc.bsky.social

www.aclu.org/cases/league...
League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump | American Civil Liberties Union
On March 25, 2025, in a sweeping and unprecedented Executive Order, President Trump attempted to usurp the power to regulate federal elections from Congress and the States. Among other things, the Exe...
www.aclu.org
April 24, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
LWVUS challenged Trumps’ anti-voter EO in court because it’s not only extreme, but is also blatantly unlawful.

Thanks to @slakin.bsky.social and @danilang-votes.bsky.social for stepping up and arguing on behalf of LWV and other plaintiffs last week.
www.votebeat.org/2025/04/17/t...
Judge hears challenges to Trump’s executive order on regulating elections
The government says the provisions that are under challenge — including a proof-of-citizenship requirement — are legal under existing federal laws.
www.votebeat.org
April 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
We're in court today fighting President Trump's executive order that threatens to make it harder for millions of people to vote.

The Constitution is clear: The president doesn't have the authority to unilaterally change federal voting rules.
April 17, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
NEW: We're urging a court to block President Trump's executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie over their voting rights work.

Along with organizations across the ideological spectrum, we're fighting Trump's attacks on his perceived political enemies.
April 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
Our Constitution is clear: the President can't unilaterally change the rules governing our elections.

Requiring a birth certificate as a condition for voting imposes a needless burden on citizens, especially people of color, women, and those in rural areas, resulting in a weakened democracy.
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Apr 1
BREAKING: We're suing President Trump for his unconstitutional executive order that would upend U.S. elections and jeopardize our voting rights.

The President doesn't have the authority to remake the rules for federal elections.
April 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
President Trump can’t rewrite our election laws. His anti-voting EO is an unlawful power grab. Along w/ the SAVE Act, it’s part of a broader strategy to suppress votes. These measure aren’t about safeguarding our elections but silencing voters who’ll hold them accountable. We’ll see Trump in court.
aclu.org ACLU @aclu.org · Apr 1
BREAKING: We're suing President Trump for his unconstitutional executive order that would upend U.S. elections and jeopardize our voting rights.

The President doesn't have the authority to remake the rules for federal elections.
April 1, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
BREAKING: President Trump signed an executive order that aims to upend U.S. elections and disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.

This is an extreme abuse of power — we'll see him in court.
March 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
We were in court today continuing to fight for fair state legislative maps in Georgia.
January 23, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Sophia Lin Lakin
President Trump rolled back Biden’s Executive Order Promoting Access on Voting, which helped ensure eligible citizens have access to registration and voting.

The federal government has a responsibility to protect our democracy.
Trump revokes Biden's order for federal agencies to promote voter registration
President Trump has reversed an executive order by former President Joe Biden that calls for federal agencies to promote voter registration.
www.npr.org
January 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Feels symbolic that lifting this story is my first post on this new social media platform but it is of one with the times. We’re ready to meet the challenges to come.
President Trump has cleared a path for attempting not to include the total number of persons residing in each state in a key set of census results that the 14th Amendment says must include the “whole number of persons in each state”
Trump rescinds Biden's census order, clearing a path for reshaping election maps
President Trump revoked a Biden-era executive order that affirmed the longstanding practice of including the total number of persons residing in each state in a census count used for election maps.
www.npr.org
January 21, 2025 at 3:57 AM