Hey friends,

12 years ago, the Supreme Court’s Shelby County ruling effectively gutted Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), making it easier for states to erect barriers to the right to vote for communities of color. This section of the VRA protected against suppressive and discriminatory voting legislation by requiring certain states and local governments with a history of racial bias to obtain federal approval of any changes to election laws, a process known as “preclearance.”

Unfortunately, friends, we’ve seen the consequences firsthand when checks and balances and essential oversight are stripped away.

Just take a look at Texas: On the day of the Shelby County ruling, lawmakers in Texas declared that they would move forward in executing the nation’s most restrictive voter ID law that was originally blocked. And they certainly did.

Since then, Texas has faced various legal challenges due to extreme partisan and racial gerrymandering. And fast forward to today, LULAC v. Abbott is currently being heard in federal court due to the state’s congressional maps being challenged for intentionally discriminating against Black and Latino voters.

But the NDRC is fighting back — whether it’s sounding the alarm on racial and partisan gerrymandering, or helping to elect Democracy Defenders, the NDRC is on the frontlines in the fight for fair maps. Rush a donation to help advance the NDRC’s efforts to protect the right to vote, safeguard our democracy, and ensure free and fair elections.

The Shelby County decision handed unscrupulous elected officials the perfect opportunity to silence voters, manipulate maps, and advance an anti-democracy agenda.

After this ruling, there was a rise in anti-voter policies that made it more difficult for people to cast their ballots.

Just right next door, Louisiana has followed Texas’s lead. As early as tomorrow morning, the Supreme Court will issue a decision regarding Louisiana’s previous maps — maps that were racially gerrymandered and undermine the voting power of Black Louisianans.

When a federal court found that Louisiana’s old maps likely violated the VRA, the maps were then redrawn to create two Black opportunity districts in the state, empowering Louisianians to finally have fair representation. But then, anti-democracy forces filed a lawsuit to get rid of the new, fairer map.

So you see team, protecting and advancing the VRA to build a truly representative democracy is why we do what we do at the NDRC.

While the far-right relentlessly and unfairly consolidate power and minimize the voting power of Black and brown communities in states across the country, we’re leading the fight for fair maps because of the need to stop partisan gerrymander efforts by the GOP.

We have to be prepared for whatever comes next — and we know that extremists will stop at nothing to get what they want. Will you contribute $30 or whatever you can to the NDRC so we can continue fighting against map manipulation?

Thanks for all you do,

The NDRC Team

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Since 2017, the NDRC has executed a comprehensive redistricting strategy that shifts the redistricting power, creating fair districts where Democrats can compete. Our victories have been made possible by our strong community of grassroots supporters.

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