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November 23, 2021

U.S. Added to List of "Backsliding Democracies" for First Time 
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For the first time ever, the U.S. has been added to a list of
"backsliding democracies." This year's annual report from the
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance cites
voter suppression in many U.S. states; runaway political polarization;
and former president Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, a United Nations human rights expert has denounced Republican
voter suppression efforts, saying partisan gerrymandering and new
restrictions on voting are undermining democracy by denying communities
of color an equal right to vote. This is Fernand de Varennes, the UN
special rapporteur on minority issues, speaking Monday. 

Fernand de Varennes: "It is almost a tyranny of the majority where
minorities' right to vote is being denied in many areas, in many parts
of the country and that this cannot be a positive development, this
cannot be consistent with the fundamental values of democracy and
certainly it does not seem to consistent with the United States
international human rights obligations."



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