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Hi there,

Welcome to the third installment in our newsletter series from the Voting
Rights Fund (VRF). As a national leader in the fight to preserve voting rights,
VRF endorses and funds champions of democratic values and electoral access.

In this edition, we explore the history and enduring impact of the Voting
Rights Act (VRA), with a focus on its role in advancing racial enfranchisement
in the United States. From dismantling language barriers to ensuring fair
district maps, the VRA has been instrumental in expanding access to the ballot.
At VRF, we support voting rights champions who share our values and are
committed to defending the right to vote for every eligible American.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. We celebrate
this milestone by recognizing the VRA’s transformative role in American
democracy and renewing our commitment to protecting the rights it enshrined.

The Origins of the Voting Rights Act

Before the passage of the VRA in 1965, two key constitutional amendments laid
the groundwork for racial enfranchisement. The 14th Amendment guaranteed equal
protection under the law, while the 15th Amendment prohibited racial
discrimination in voting. Yet despite these legal protections, Southern states
employed widespread voter suppression tactics, including poll taxes, literacy
tests, intimidation, and violence to disenfranchise Black voters.

Civil rights leaders and organizations like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the
NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Student Nonviolent
Coordinating Committee mobilized a national movement to demand meaningful
voting rights protections. The mass mobilization and public pressure from
widespread non-violent demonstration and lobbying members of congress
culminated in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The VRA prohibited
discriminatory voting practices and provided federal oversight for
jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination.

The VRA’s core provisions include:

* Section 2, which bans any voting law or practice that discriminates on the
basis of race or color.
* Section 4(b) and Section 5, which together established “preclearance”
requirements for certain jurisdictions to obtain federal approval before making
changes to voting laws. Although the Supreme Court significantly weakened this
provision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013), states like Maryland have since
reinstated their own preclearance laws to preserve protections.
Breaking the Language Barrier

The fight for inclusive access did not stop in 1965. In 1975, Congress amended
the VRA to include Section 203, requiring jurisdictions with significant
language-minority populations to provide bilingual voting materials and
support. This reform was critical to enfranchising communities where English is
not the dominant language.

Today, some jurisdictions are using innovative tools to further expand access.
In 2024, polling places in Denver trialedhandheld translation devices,
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offering real-time language support in over 80 languages.

The Census and Redistricting: The Fight Against Gerrymandering

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census provides vital demographic data used to redraw
electoral district boundaries. This redistricting process is essential to
maintaining equal representation, but it has been used to manipulate district
borders to suppress voter power.

Gerrymandering tactics like packing (concentrating voters of one group into a
single district) and cracking (spreading them across many districts to dilute
their influence) remain major threats to fair representation. Although the VRA
sought to combat these practices, the Supreme Court’s 2019 decision in Rucho v.
Common Cause ruled that federal courts cannot adjudicate cases of partisan
gerrymandering, leaving enforcement to the states.

Since then, some states have acted to restrict gerrymandering, while others
have moved in the opposite direction. In Texas, lawmakers have redrawn district
maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, ahead of the normal decennial cycle,
raising alarms about the potential for manipulation. The newly proposed map
would potentially increase the amount ofRepublican controlled districts to 79%,
up from 66%.
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states, like New York and California, are also reviewing their processes.
California, notably, uses an independent redistricting commission and bans
partisan gerrymandering in its constitution.


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Undercounts in Census data, particularly among low-income and minority
populations, further complicate redistricting. The consistent
underrepresentation of these groups has, historically, skewed representation
and disenfranchised these communities. That’s why VRF supports redistricting
reforms that protect against bias and uphold the principle of “one person, one
vote.” VRF also supports the highest quality data collection and equitable
systems for apportioning votes.

Conclusion: Celebrating 60 Years of Progress and the Work Ahead

The fight for racial enfranchisement has spanned generations. The Voting
Rights Act remains a cornerstone of American democracy, responsible for
expanding access, securing representation, and ensuring fair elections. As we
commemorate its 60th anniversary, VRF honors the work of those who made it
possible and we recommit ourselves to the cause.

Today, VRF-endorsed leaders are working to strengthen these protections by
advancing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore
and improve key provisions of the original VRA. This legislation aims to
increase access to the ballot, protect against discrimination, and promote
equity in representation.

To support our work or learn more, visit our website or consider making a
contribution today.

—Voting Rights Fund

P.S. If you have a chance, could you please chip in to support our work
fighting back agaisnt Gerrymandering?
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Paid for by Voting Rights Fund and not authorized by any candidate or
candidate's committee


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