Last night, volunteers in DC responded to my call that democracy still needs your help.  They gathered to do People For the American Way Foundation's part in a project that will touch hundreds of thousands nationwide.

In the past I've asked you to work for democracy.  With only a month left before November 4, that call to action is more important than ever.  You can still help!

Earlier this summer I joined Matt Popek in calling upon all of you to use the knowledge you gain in preparing yourself to vote to help others exercise that right.  Now is the time for you to put that call into action.

This year going back to school is about far more than returning to campus – it’s about changing history. For many a trip to the ballot box will be right around the corner, and some will cast their first ever vote for president. We want to be sure that the youth voice is heard. But it won’t be unless young people are prepared for the challenges they may face at the polls.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Monday of this week that an Indiana law requiring people who wanted to vote to show a photo ID was constitutional.  I believe this requirement will definitely have a negative impact on the participation of voters who have a disability and the elderly who may find it particularly difficult to get around to a courthouse or other government agency in order to satisfy the stringent new ID requirements.  Also immigrants may feel intimidated by the requirement and may decide not to participate in elections because the photo ID centers may not be accessible to them and they may not have the money to pay for transportation to the center.

And you think all you need to do is make sure you register in time? Well, there’s a case being argued in the Supreme Court tomorrow that could have a lot to say about how many hoops the government is allowed to put you through when you show up at the polls. It’s called Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (actually, it’s two cases that have been combined; the other one is Indiana Democratic Party v. Todd Rokita, Indiana Secretary of State). The case has to do with whether an Indiana statute, which contains the most restrictive voter ID barriers in the nation, places an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote.

Read more below.

It may be stormy, but things never cool off here in DC in the summer.

Congress is in recess, but they're giving us plenty to work on.