John,

Today marks 60 years since Bloody Sunday, when more than 600 brave individuals marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, demanding voting rights for Black Americans. As they faced brutal attacks by police, the powerful images captured by the media sparked public outrage, leading Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

But, the fight for voting rights is far from over. Here’s the current state of voting rights today:

📌 The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a dangerous bill called the SAVE Act, which requires all Americans to present proof of citizenship in person when they register to vote or update their registration. This would:

Eliminate online voter registration overnight.
Shut down voter registration drives nationwide.
Prevent anyone from being able to register to vote by mail.
Disproportionately impact women, voters of color, young voters, rural voters, and lower-income families who may have changed their names or lack access to the documents required to register.

📌 At least 10 states passed 19 restrictive voting laws in 2024, including:

Georgia made it easier to challenge voters’ eligibility using unreliable data.
Louisiana banned anyone except immediate family from helping voters cast their ballots.
Tennessee reduced the number of days voters can request absentee ballots.
New Hampshire tightened voter ID requirements.

📌 More than 280 bills restricting voter access were introduced across 42 states in the past year:

Arizona is considering a ban on in-person early voting.
Wisconsin passed a proposal to insert its photo ID requirement into the state constitution.
States like Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Indiana are making it harder for students to vote.

Friend, 60 years later — we are still fighting. This week, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives, a significant step forward in protecting voters from discrimination by restoring and strengthening the protections of the Voting Rights Act.

Because of the leaders who fought for our rights, we now have the power to make our voices heard at the ballot box — but we need to keep fighting for it. With over 100,000 local elections this year, check your voter registration to ensure you’re prepared for the upcoming elections.