News & Commentary

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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.

Dec 17, 2021

In 2021, Our Fight for LGBTQ Rights Moved to the States

Several great strides for LGBTQ rights were made in 2021, but we also encountered an unprecedented upsurge in discriminatory legislation. Our vision of a world where LGBTQ people can truly live freely and openly is far from reality, particularly for LGBTQ people of color as well as trans and non-binary people. This year saw the passing of

By aclutn

Dec 16, 2021

Surreal Stingray Secrecy: Uncovering the FBI’s Surveillance Tech Secrecy Agreements

The FBI has refused to confirm or deny if it has recent records about its practice of requiring local police to sign strict nondisclosure agreements prior to purchasing invasive cell phone tracking technology. But the FBI acknowledged imposing these NDAs on local police years ago, and even recognized problems created by the practice. So what is the FBI trying to hide now? And do the feds really not appreciate the irony of refusing to confirm or deny the existence of secrecy agreements? The public deserves to know, and we’re suing to find out. C

By aclutn

Dec 14, 2021

Over a Year After His Election, President Biden’s Human Rights Commitments Fail to Meet the Moment

Throughout his presidential campaign, then-candidate Joe Biden promised to “revitalize our national commitment to advancing human rights and democracy around the world.” More than a year after the election, however, his administration hasn’t gone far enough to significantly move the needle on human rights. T

By aclutn

Dec 09, 2021

With Reproductive Freedom in Danger, New Jersey Must Expand Protections and Access

When Texas banned nearly all abortions, it showed us that what happens on the state level can reach far beyond state lines. Just as starkly, it has shown the grim reality that when reproductive freedom comes under threat, people of color and those on the economic margins will undeniably bear the brunt of the harms caused by abortion restrictions. F

By aclutn

Dec 03, 2021

Here are the States We’re Watching as Redistricting Begins

Since the nation’s founding, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color have faced disenfranchisement. As redistricting begins, we’re watching to make sure our political leaders don’t continue to disenfranchise these same communities. E

By aclutn

Dec 03, 2021

Three Reasons Why Congress Must Pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Now

Although Congress outlawed pregnancy discrimination in 1978, far too many employers still routinely deny pregnant workers the temporary job modifications they need to keep working and have a healthy pregnancy. These requests for “accommodations” — such as more frequent breaks, schedule changes, and reassignment of hazardous tasks — often are denied to pregnant workers, and can result in severe consequences for their health and financial security. Nobody should have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and a job. T

By aclutn

Nov 29, 2021

11/30: Giving Tuesday 2021

By Claire Gardner

Nov 25, 2021

The True Measure of Justice for Ahmaud Arbery Goes Beyond the Courtroom

Our country is in the midst of a modern-day reckoning with its identity and its history of racialized oppression. Triggered in part by the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others, our communities are grappling with the long history of inequality and hatred that continues to rear its head — more recently, in what must be understood as the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery. T

By aclutn

Nov 23, 2021

Your Mini Guide to Discussing Abortion Rights at the Dinner Table

With multiple abortion cases at the Supreme Court and a continuing onslaught of anti-abortion restrictions sweeping the states, abortion is likely to come up in conversations about the news — including among friends and family during the holidays. H

By aclutn

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