News & Commentary

Image of a two hands reaching across the table with a patriotic sign that says VOTE in the middle.

What's on the ballot in Tennessee?

Three constitutional amendments on bail, property taxes, and victims' rights are on Tennessee's November ballot. See where we stand.

Latest Publication

Sep 10, 2026

Citizenship Rights Restoration in Tennessee

Restoring your voting rights in Tennessee got easier in 2026. State Sen. Raumesh Akbari and State Rep. Karen Camper led the charge in the legislature to remove some of the biggest barriers standing between formerly incarcerated Tennesseans and the ballot box.

The Campaign Legal Center and Free Hearts, a Tennessee nonprofit led by formerly incarcerated women, have been on the ground helping people navigate this process and pushing for a fairer system. For eligibility requirements and step-by-step petition instructions, read the guide from Free Hearts and the Campaign Legal Center.

Thumbnail for the Set the Record Straight Series. Cover Reads: 470,000 Can't Vote

More from the Press

Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Aug 10, 2016

The State of Missouri Was Right to Say No Church Playground Renovations on the Taxpayers' Dime

This piece originally ran on SCOTUSblog. In Trinity Lu

By aclutn

Aug 08, 2016

Details Abound in Drone ‘Playbook’ — Except for the Ones That Really Matter Most

In response to a court order in an ACLU lawsuit, the government late Friday evening (as is its wont) released five documents relating to its process for nominating terrorism suspects for kill or capture. Most notable was the "Presidential Policy Guidance," a document particularly central to the government’s targeted killing program. The release is important and illuminating, especially considering the backdrop of extreme secrecy surroundin

By aclutn

Aug 08, 2016

An Impolitic Situation: When Rights Disappear

A version of this article originally appeared in STAND Magazine, a publication for ACLU members and supporters. For months, political parties and presidential candidates fight for the highest

By aclutn

Aug 04, 2016

FBI Releases Secret Spy Plane Footage from Freddie Gray Protests

In response to an ACLU Freedom of Information Act request, the FBI has released more than 18 hours of video from surveillance cameras installed on FBI aircraft that flew over Baltimore in the days after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015. The videos, which were released to the ACLU before being posted online by the FBI this week, offer a rare and comprehensive view of the workings of a government surveillance operation. While the release of the footage addresses some questions, it leaves others unanswered.

By aclutn

Aug 04, 2016

Top 10 Reasons the ACLU Fights for Breastfeeding Rights

A few weeks ago, a mom named Jessie Maher was breastfeeding her baby in the cafeteria of a Target store in Connecticut when a belligerent man approached and said she was “F*ing disgusting” and “nasty.” Fellow shoppers and Target employees quickly sprang to Maher’s defense, shielding her from the man. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of feeding your baby,” one of them said to Maher. “Th

By aclutn

Aug 04, 2016

Did the Supreme Court Really Just Issue an Emergency Order to Stop a 17-Year-Old Transgender Boy From Using the Boys Bathroom at School?

The Supreme Court granted an “emergency” stay yesterday to stop Gavin Grimm, a 17-year-old transgender boy from Virginia, from using the boys’ restroom at school. Gavin has facial hair, a deep voice, and a state ID that identifies him as male. In every aspect of his life outside scho

By aclutn

Aug 03, 2016

The Constitution: Still a Bestseller After All These Years

Throughout our 96-year history, the Constitution has guided so much of what we do at the ACLU — we strive to help people understand and care about our founding document and show how it’s relevant in our everyday lives. And suddenly, during this year’s election cycle, the Constitution ended up being an especially hot topic. After Khizr Khan’s speech urging Donald Trump to read the Constitution, we decided to offer our pocket Cons

By aclutn

Aug 01, 2016

Single Sex Facilities: Battleground and Opportunity

Today marks a pivotal fight in the restroom wars. This morning, we will ask a federal judge to suspend North Carolina’s hateful anti-transgender law, known as HB2, which requires transgender people in all public buildings to use restrooms that accord with the gender on their birth certificate, regardless of their gender identity. Simply put, the law bars transgender people from participation in public life. For our client,

By aclutn

Jul 29, 2016

In America, the UN Finds the Rights to Peaceful Assembly and Association Are Being Eroded, and Race Plays a Big Factor

The U.N.’s special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association completed a 17-day mission to the United States this week, and he drew some concerning conclusions about the state of those rights in this country. Maini Kiai

By aclutn

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