Stand Up for Voting Rights: Tell Congress to Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

A federal court dominated by Republican-appointed, far-right judges has just gutted citizens’ ability to sue for their rights under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

If it stands, this ruling would be a disaster for the right to vote — effectively allowing far-right legislators to pass racist voter suppression laws and gerrymanders with virtually no legal challenges when their allies hold the White House. Congress must act to protect the right to vote — tell your representatives to support the updated John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Friend — last month, a right-wing majority on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a ruling that eliminates the ability of individuals and groups to bring lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

This horrific ruling flies in the face of decades of judicial precedent. If it’s allowed to stand, this ruling will eviscerate the ability of minority voters to defend their right to vote in states that continue to suppress those rights.

Worse yet, the appeals court’s ruling says that only the US Department of Justice can enforce the Voting Rights Act… meaning that far-right insurrectionist presidents like Donald Trump could abuse the power of the presidency to greenlight rampant voter suppression and gerrymandering.

We can’t let this stand, Friend. Congress has the power to secure the right to vote. Tell your representatives to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act right now. Help us deliver 5,000 signatures to legislators on Capitol Hill demanding action TODAY >>

The updated John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was created to honor the legacy of the late civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis and continue his vital mission to protect the right to vote for communities of color and all Americans. This bill would serve as a safeguard against the far-right’s attacks on voting rights by:

Preventing racial discrimination in voting and redistricting;
Updating and modernizing the framework for ensuring states and localities with histories of voting discrimination have their voting policy changes approved by the US Department of Justice or a federal court;
Instructing courts to block discriminatory election policies; and
Undoing the harmful impacts of far-right judges’ attacks on voting rights.

This is about stopping the White supremacy tactic of voter disenfranchisement. When our courts greenlight state and local policies such as restrictive voter ID laws, closing polling places in communities of color, redrawing district maps to dilute the power of voters of color, and barriers like denial of food and water on voting lines, marginalized voters are deprived of their fundamental right to an equal say in our democracy.

We can beat these attacks from the extreme MAGA right and restore the right to vote to all Americans… but we need your help. Tell your representatives to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act today >>

Thank you for standing with us.

Onward,

Doug Lindner
Senior Director of Judiciary & Democracy
League of Conservation Voters