In 2013, in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court invalidates the part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act requiring certain states to submit changes in voting laws to the Justice Department for approval. Almost immediately, certain states take voter suppression measures such as enacting voter ID laws, redrawing district boundaries, and repealing same-day registration. Three months before the 2016 election, a group of volunteers across the country mobilizes to work on voter protection—to observe elections and to assure that all those who wish to vote are legally allowed to do so. Laverne Berry, Steven Miller, and Claire Wright are assigned to North Carolina. Five days before Election Day, they arrive in Fayetteville to familiarize themselves with the local situation. On Election Day itself, they station themselves at the polls to answer questions. Through their work on this one day, we see just what’s involved in protecting the cornerstone democratic principle of “one person, one vote.”  AT

Moderated conversation following screening