Protecting everyone’s access to exercise their right to vote is a humanist value.
The passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was pivotal in protecting the voting rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Unfortunately, in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the Supreme Court gutted enforcement of a vital component of the Voting Rights Act that required states with a history of discriminatory voting restrictions to obtain federal approval for future changes to their voting practices.
The Court’s decision has led to a rapid implementation of voter suppression tactics, including voter ID laws, signature matching requirements, address requirements, and limited vote-by-mail options, and states across the country are continuing rapid enactment of laws that make it harder to vote. Particularly of note, these changes are disproportionately hindering voting access for communities of color and other marginalized groups. As voter suppression silences the voices of marginalized communities that deserve the right to access fair and free elections, the peoples’ needs regarding the issues that matter most are stifled and ignored.
On Tuesday, Representative Terri Sewell (AL-7) introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with very strong support from congressional colleagues and civil society. When the bill was introduced in previous years, it enjoyed tremendous backing from democracy and voting rights champions, and even passed the House. Now, you have a chance to call on your Representative to cosponsor and support the VRAA once again to ensure the policies within it are uplifted as priority.
Take just one moment now to demand your Representative fight voter discrimination!
The VRAA would return the Voting Rights Act to full strength by creating an updated formula that holds states accountable when they attempt to disenfranchise voters and restores voters’ ability to challenge discriminatory changes to voting practices. The new preclearance formula would be a critical step toward ensuring those who benefit from suppressing votes cannot disenfranchise communities of color by law. The bill also, amongst other important changes, makes efforts towards transparency by requiring local governments to notify the public of changes to voting practices. You may read the bill here.
We should be making it easier to vote in this country, not harder. Without equal voting access for all, our democracy is at great risk. Only with voting access for all can our system of government truly be deemed equitable and representative of the will of the people, and can the promise of our democracy be fulfilled. Now more than ever, your elected officials in Congress need to hear from you.
