Opinion Democracy Under Siege

Alabama state Senators Rodger Smitherman, left, and Jim McClendon look over maps during the special session on redistricting at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., on Nov. 1, 2021.

Opinion

Multiracial democracy is under threat at the US Supreme Court

States and localities would have free rein to design rules that on the surface look “race neutral” but really are thinly disguised pretexts for discriminating against minority voters. 11:49 a.m.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell returned to his office following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. McConnell has thrown his support behind the recent bipartisan effort to update the Electoral Count Act of 1887.

Opinion

It’s a moment to praise Mitch McConnell

The Senate Republican leader has thrown his support behind the effort to update the Electoral Count Act of 1887 — and that makes passage of those essential reforms much more likely. 5:50 p.m.

Polls suggest that nearly 70 percent of Republican voters say that Joe Biden did not win the 2020 election legitimately. The falsehood is fueling hostility at the polls and causing some election workers to think twice about working on election day.

Ideas

My local polling station has become a hostile environment

Increasing numbers of allegations of voter fraud and outbursts from angry and uninformed voters have me wondering whether I will continue to work at the polls on election day. 1:42 p.m.

Sixth-grade students (from left) Armani Teran, Bryan Moss, and Nolan Haynes gathered at the South Elementary School in Holbrook for their weekly civics club meeting in May 2017. The club's topic was the withholding of recess as punishment for missing homework, makeup work, or for behavior issues.

Letters

Civic engagement: sounds great in theory, but ...

Surely having the skills to actively engage can be used for any ends. After all, most autocrats rose to power using their skills to actively engage in their communities and government. 2:20 a.m.