John, on this day 10 years ago, the Supreme Court issued one of the most devastating anti-democracy rulings we’ve ever seen.
The ruling in Shelby County v. Holder gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) — one of the most important protections against discriminatory voting laws.
Today, because of this anti-voter ruling, we’re facing some of the worst voter suppression attempts we’ve seen in decades. That’s why we’re calling on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would repair and strengthen the VRA’s vital protections against discrimination and serve as a first line of defense against anti-democracy extremists.
We must act now to create the democracy we all deserve. Tell Congress: Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and ensure every voter’s voice can be heard on Election Day >>
The Voting Rights Act, one of our nation’s proudest civil rights achievements, has a section that for decades protected Americans from discriminatory voting procedures before they took effect.
States and other jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination — determined by a “preclearance formula” — had to clear any changes to their voting rules with the Justice Department or a federal court. This stopped thousands of dangerous provisions from taking effect.
And for nearly half a century, the VRA saw strong, nearly unanimous, bipartisan support when Congress amended the law and reviewed the preclearance formula — with people from all political backgrounds coming together to ensure Americans’ voices could be heard at the ballot box, free from discrimination.
But the Shelby County decision in 2013 gutted that preclearance formula, inviting power-hungry politicians to attack voters’ rights, pass racially discriminatory laws that take effect immediately, and make it harder for Americans to vote.
Here’s one important thing to know: the Supreme Court in Shelby County invited Congress to update the preclearance formula. And for the past 10 years, Congress has built a strong record to do just that in the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Passing this bill will bring the full Voting Rights Act back to full strength.
The anti-voter tactics that have swept the country since Shelby County target communities of color, low-income communities, seniors, and other marginalized and underrepresented groups. And when some Americans’ voices are silenced at the polls, it stops our democracy from representing ALL of us.
We need to bring the Voting Rights Act back to full strength and protect the freedom to vote.
On the anniversary of the catastrophic Shelby County ruling, I hope you’ll join us and thousands of other Common Cause members across the country in demanding a democracy that includes everyone. Write your lawmaker and call on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately.
Thanks for all you do,
Stephen Spaulding, Vice President of Policy and External Affairs
and the team at Common Cause
