Friend,

"I refuse not to be heard so I'm standing in line."

Those were the words of Terri Russell, who has bronchitis and asthma and who stood in line for more than three hours to vote in Georgia during a pandemic because her absentee ballot never came.

This is unconscionable. But let me be clear: It is also the point. Republicans in states like Georgia hope they can make voting as difficult -- and in this case, potentially as deadly -- as possible, so that voters don't show up to the polls. When voters don't show up, Republicans win.

Republicans are looking to repeat what we saw in Georgia in every primary this year, all the way up to the general election in November. We can't stand for it: Add your name to call for equal access to the ballot box at elections this year so that ALL Americans can make their voices heard.

The fact that people brought their own lawn chairs to wait in line to vote should make us all furious. Georgians went to the polls knowing what they'd have to face, and still waited. Because they know democracy is speaking up, just like Terri said.

But democracy is also elected officials showing up to make democracy easier and more accessible. Voting officials in Georgia clearly abdicated their responsibilities this week. Stacey Abrams said it best:

"There is malfeasance that is permeating the entirety of our voting system, and it's exacerbated by the incompetence of the leadership that refuses to number one: do its job, and two: doesn't seem to understand what the job is."

Republicans are scared, and they're hoping nothing changes before November. But more than 700,000 voters have been added to the rolls in Georgia since 2018 -- Americans won't back down. We have to stand with them, and do it now.

Commit with me to call for expanded voting rights and equal access to the ballot box: Add your name next to mine right now.

Sincerely,

Chuck Schumer

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