Race, income, age, or zip code should never determine your right to participate in our democracy. But these factors impact and prevent voting access for many Americans.
Race, income, age, or zip code should never determine your right to participate in our democracy. But these factors impact and prevent voting access for many Americans.
From restrictions on absentee voting to voter ID requirements, voter suppression by state legislatures has impacted Americans everywhere, hitting young, Black, and low-income voters especially hard. And it's only getting worse; since the beginning of 2021, more than 400 voter suppression bills have been introduced in 49 state legislatures. Plus, the recent Supreme Court Brnovich v. DNC decision makes it harder than ever for voters to challenge discriminatory voting laws. Democracy in America has never been in more danger.
So what do we do? The fact is that we can't out-organize voter suppression. If we want to keep our elections free and fair, we need swift action on the part of the federal government. We need Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bill would protect every American's freedom to vote by making sure any change to state and local voting rules that could discriminate against voters based on race, age, or any other background passes a federal review before it can be implemented. In a time when voter suppression laws are on the rise, this is a desperately needed piece of legislation.
Young people showed up to the polls in record numbers in 2020 and voted for change. We voted for racial justice, climate solutions, immigration reform, student debt relief, and democracy. If we want to see lasting change, we need to make sure our democracy works for everyone.
We commend the House of Representatives for passing this momentous piece of legislation and urge the Senate to introduce and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act immediately. Ask your senator to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect voting rights for all Americans. Together, we can make sure every American is able to exercise their right to vote.