John, GOP politicians passed 94 restrictive voting laws in states across the country in the last decade, [1] with 13 vote-suppressing bills passed this year alone. [2]
I’m alarmed at how many anti-voter laws are being introduced and how quickly they’re moving through state legislatures.
I’m not writing today to frighten you. You know that as long as Common Cause is around, “We The People” will always have a champion fighting for our rights and the democracy we deserve.
But I also have to be honest about what we’re up against. This is a concerted effort to crack down on our freedoms before the 2024 elections. And these threats will only increase the closer we get.
The good news: A national bill to expand voting rights and block states like Georgia and Texas from disenfranchising voters has been introduced just last week. Along with the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, this is the best long term solution to the problems that ail our democracy, and I need your help to seize this moment.
The Freedom to Vote Act codifies basic protections to our right to vote and will:
- Ban gerrymandering so politicians can’t draw rigged maps
- Let voters know who is spending money to influence our votes and break the grip of big money in politics
- Guarantee popular voting options like early voting, automatic voter registration, and vote-by-mail in all 50 states
I cannot stress enough how important it is to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, but we know that bold reform is a marathon, not a sprint.
With Common Cause’s strong support, the House of Representatives passed a version of this bill last year, and even though a majority of the U.S. Senate voted for this transformative bill, it was blocked by a Senate Republican filibuster.
But we are not giving up. As we continue our work on the Freedom to Vote Act, certain politicians are trying to create barriers to voting. Earlier this month, House Republicans introduced their bill to nationalize voter suppression. And as I write you, our team is preparing for an influx of new voter suppression bills from states like Ohio, Texas, and North Carolina.
John, I’m sure you know more than most that we have our work cut out for us. That’s why I’m writing today to ask if I can count on your support while we fight for our freedom to vote.
Our team at Common Cause is lobbying against bad bills in states like Florida and Georgia, as well as in the U.S. House and Senate. We’re filing lawsuits against states like North Carolina, where our Supreme Court case Moore v. Harper was a huge win for voting rights. [3]
We need to be prepared for anything between now and the 2024 elections. There’s simply too much at stake for us to slow down now, but this has been a resource-intensive battle, and we need your help.
Your donation today will make all the difference in our push to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and protect our right to vote. Can I count on you to chip in?
With you by our side, John, I know we can secure a better future for us all. I hope you’ll show your support today.
Thank you,
Stephen Spaulding, Vice President for Policy & External Affairs
and the team at Common Cause
P.S. Want to learn more about the Freedom to Vote Act? Read more here.
[1] brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/states-have-added-nearly-100-restrictive-laws-scotus-gutted-voting-rights
[2] brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-june-2023
[3] commoncause.org/our-work/gerrymandering-and-representation/no-lawless-lawmakers/
