Democracy Archives – Center for Public Integrity

The two men are huddled over a registration form on a clipboard. They're standing beside a car.

‘The restrictions are unbelievable’: States target voter registration drives

by Aaron Mendelson and Ashley Lopez May 16, 2024May 16, 2024

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center and co-reported with NPR. This story also appeared in NPR ORLANDO, Fla. — Carolina Wassmer piloted a gray SUV around the city, dropping off canvassers from the civic engagement group Poder Latinx one by one. It was a muggy day, but the canvassers hopped out with their […]

People wearing masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 are sitting or standing near voting-privacy stations that say "Vote Here" with a checkmark and a flag.

How a data wrinkle led me to a story about disinformation and our democracy

by Janelle O'Dea March 20, 2024March 20, 2024

A state supreme court building is sinking as it is being washed under a sea of red.

High Courts, High Stakes

Public Integrity state court investigation is a Toner Prize finalist

by The Center for Public Integrity March 6, 2024March 6, 2024

The line of voters is long, wrapping down a pathway up to the building and alongside the road. People are dressed in coats and wearing face masks. A sign says "Polling Place" with an arrow.

States ditched an election partnership. Voters will feel the consequences.

by Janelle O'Dea February 29, 2024February 29, 2024

An illustration shows images of justices Paul Newby, Carol Corrigan and Scott Crichton displayed behind two gavels.

High Courts, High Stakes

Not just the Supreme Court: Ethics troubles plague state high courts, too

by Aaron Mendelson December 7, 2023January 3, 2024

The courthouse is shown at a looming angle with clouds swirling above. It is a pale-colored building with columns and the words "Law and Justice" inscribed on stone.

High Courts, High Stakes

America’s state supreme courts don’t look like America

by Aaron Mendelson September 6, 2023September 7, 2023

Inside Public Integrity

Fundraising ‘schemes’ investigated by Public Integrity lead to arrests

by The Center for Public Integrity August 18, 2023August 18, 2023

The Supreme Court building in Raleigh, North Carolina, has the words law and justice etched on its facade.

High Courts, High Stakes

‘Lose the courts, lose the war’: The battle over voting in North Carolina

by Aaron Mendelson July 25, 2023November 29, 2023

A map of the United States is covered in icons of supreme court buildings.

High Courts, High Stakes

State high courts get limited attention. Here’s how to change that.

by Aaron Mendelson July 24, 2023July 24, 2023

A state supreme court building is sinking as it is being washed under a sea of red.

High Courts, High Stakes

How Republicans flipped America’s state supreme courts

by Aaron Mendelson July 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Inside Public Integrity

Public Integrity voting inequity investigation wins National Headliner Award

by The Center for Public Integrity May 10, 2023May 10, 2023

Several 'I Voted! Did You?' stickers are shown.

This year’s ballot measures will change how many Americans vote

by Aaron Mendelson December 15, 2022December 13, 2022

A white man with short brown hair, glasses and a beard and mustache hugs a Black man wearing a pinstripe suit whose back is to the camera, while a white woman with blonde hair and sunglasses and a white man in a blue, button-down shirt stand in the background wearing a partially obscured Black T-shirt that says, "Let My People Vote."

How a Jim Crow-era strategy blocked 4.6 million people from voting in 2022

by Matt DeRienzo December 8, 2022December 8, 2022

A woman wearing an orange face masks holds her hand over her heart as she holds a green vinyl banner with other demonstrators that says Immigrants are #HereToStay. Other demonstrators are pictured behind them along with Washington, D.C., buildings.

Cities want noncitizens to vote on local matters. GOP sees a target

by Kristian Hernández November 22, 2022November 22, 2022

A woman standing in front of other protesters holding signs wears a gray shirt and a black face mask that says "Get in Good Trouble" on it and holds a white homemade cardboard sign that says "Count Every Vote" in black letters, with the words, "Democracy, Baby!" and "With love, Philadelphia XOXO" in smaller read letters.

Thousands of votes won’t count this year over minor absentee ballot errors

by Kimberly Cataudella November 6, 2022November 6, 2022

A white sign with simple black lettering that says "REGISTER HERE" sits in the foreground of an image that shows two women sitting at a folding table with a cardboard office supplies box on it. A mural on the side of the building is shown in the top right background of the photo with an image of civil rights leader and late Congressman John Lewis and the quote, "The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument we have in a democratic society."

It’s already too late for thousands of would-be voters: Why that matters

by Kimberly Cataudella November 2, 2022November 2, 2022

Costs to vote considered modern “poll taxes”

by Ileana Garnand October 31, 2022October 30, 2022

A voter wearing a mask puts a ballot into an election drop box.

‘Chaos and confusion’: The campaign to stamp out ballot drop boxes

by Aaron Mendelson and Pratheek Rebala October 30, 2022November 4, 2022

A "wait here to vote" sign lies on the floor as a person walks by it.

A headlong rush by states to attack voting access — or expand it

by Aaron Mendelson October 6, 2022October 6, 2022

Who Counts?

by The Center for Public Integrity October 6, 2022April 6, 2023