America the Voiceless
America the Voiceless
The North Star
All Americans have a voice, but too many Americans face roadblocks when it comes to casting their votes. People who are waiting to become naturalized citizens, people who are undocumented, people who were once incarcerated and so many others are forced to watch from the sidelines as their fellow Americans vote in the next election. The hosts of this podcast, journalists Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas, speak to lawmakers, historians, non-profit leaders and everyday people to unpack the barriers many Americans have to overcome to make sure that their voices are heard during the voting process. 
12: Ep. 12 - Election Night
In the final episode, hosts Nikki Rojas and Maria Elena Perez will talk about the election results and circle back to the people/organizations that they interviewed to get their perspective on how the election went down.
Nov 5, 2020
29 min
11: Ep. 11 - The Struggles Citizens Face Getting to The Polls
Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas discuss how difficult it is for some individuals to get to the polls on election day, and what organizations are doing to help get them there so they can express their right to vote. 
Oct 29, 2020
20 min
10: Ep. 10 - The Barriers People with Disabilities Face in the Voting Process
Nikki Rojas and Maria Elena Perez dig into the laws preventing Americans with mental and physical disabilities from getting to the polls.
Oct 20, 2020
19 min
9: Ep. 9 - The Lack of Voting Rights in Puerto Rico and Other U.S. Territories
Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas unpack why Americans living in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, only have the right to vote during the primary elections.
Oct 15, 2020
24 min
8: Ep. 8 - The Tools of Modern-Day Voter Suppression
Hosts Nikki Rojas and Maria Elena Perez dig into the laws and tactics being used to suppress voters’ rights as Americans prepare to elect their next president. 
Oct 8, 2020
23 min
7: Ep. 7 - Native Americans: Their Fight For Voting Rights and Citizenship
Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas delve into the history of Native Americans, who went from owning the land to being forced to fight for citizenship in the U.S. The hosts also discuss how voter ID laws particularly affect tribal nations.
Oct 1, 2020
19 min
6:  Ep. 6 - How COVID-19 Stalled Legal Immigrants’ Dreams to Vote in November
In the second part of a two-episode look at how the voting process excludes immigrants, Nikki Rojas and Maria Elena Perez discuss how the coronavirus pandemic halted naturalization ceremonies, stopping legal immigrants from being able to vote in the general election.
Sep 24, 2020
19 min
5:  Ep. 5 - How the Undocumented Are Overlooked In the Voting Process
In the first part of a two-episode look at how the voting process excludes immigrants, Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas take a look at how undocumented immigrants can’t vote for the lawmakers responsible for their fate in this country.
Sep 17, 2020
19 min
4:  Ep. 4 - Can Americans Who Are Currently or Formerly Incarcerated Vote?
Nikki Rojas and Maria Elena Perez dig into the roadblocks faced by Americans who navigate through the criminal justice system. Americans who have been incarcerated or are currently incarcerated often lose the right to vote and have difficulties regaining that right. We hear from Nicole Porter from The Sentencing Project, Dr. Jane Gubser from Cook County Jail and artist Natti from CunninLynguists.
Sep 10, 2020
21 min
3: Ep. 3 - A Look at the History of Black Voter Suppression
Maria Elena Perez and Nikki Rojas speak to Black historian and author Dr. Carol Anderson about the turbulent history of Black voter suppression and how those racist systems are still at play today.
Sep 3, 2020
26 min
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