Symposium on Voting Rights: Our Past, Our Present, Our Future

Please join FairVote Minnesota, the University of St. Thomas Racial Justice Initiative, Macalester College, the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the African American Leadership Forum, and Minnesota Law for a groundbreaking Symposium on Voting Rights: Our Past, Our Present, Our Future at the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center, Woulfe Hall, 2115 Summit Ave, St Paul on Thursday, Feb. 1, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, followed by a reception.

The symposium will convene a diverse and influential gathering of voting rights academics, thought leaders, students, community members, and political figures to engage in deep and meaningful conversations about the evolution of voting rights in Minnesota. We will tackle the challenges our democracy currently faces and explore critical reforms like ranked choice voting, campaign finance, redistricting, countering disinformation, and democratic participation, among others––and work together to build a more representative and inclusive future for our state and our country. MHC’s CEO, Kevin Lindsey, will moderate the panel entitled “Democracy Under Threat: Rise of Extremism.” There will be plenty of opportunity for Q&A throughout the morning and mingling with fellow participants at the reception.

Panels will cover the evolution of voting rights and democratic participation, threats to our democracy, and the future of democracy reform in Minnesota and the country. Confirmed speakers and panelists include: Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Secretary of State Steve Simon, Attorney General Keith Ellison, former Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, University of St. Thomas President Rob Vischer, St. Thomas Professor Yoruhu Williams, Humphrey School Dean Nisha Botchwey, Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, Stanford Professor Larry Diamond, MN House Majority Whip Athena Hollins, Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Rep. Esther Agbaje, and Rep. Emma Greenman.