Read these stories of what's at stake for our democracy and planet.? Hi friend ? This week all of us at LCV have been
commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by fighting to build
a more just and equitable democracy to protect people and the planet.

This landmark legislation was a historic victory that came after
decades of struggle during the Civil Rights Movement. Enacted to put an end to
discriminatory voting laws and to protect the right to vote for Black, Latinx,
and other communities of color, the Voting Rights Act was a powerful legislative
equalizer. However, the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder stripped important protections from this law, allowing states to reinstitute
disenfranchising voters. And now, our voting system is in jeopardy as the
COVID-19 crisis continues to devastate our nation.

This pandemic is creating serious challenges to holding safe, in-person
elections ? threatening our ability to make progress on critical public health
and climate justice issues this year. These challenges won't impact all
communities the same way ? communities of color and young people are likely to
be disproportionately impacted by the double suppression of restrictive voting
laws and pandemic challenges if we don't act now to protect our voting system.

We must ensure that all voters can safely participate in the 2020
elections. Forcing people to line up for hours to vote in-person during a
pandemic threatens the health of voters and poll workers, undermines the public
confidence in elections, delays results, and suppresses voter participation.
That's why we're calling on LCV supporters like you to urge Congress to allocate at least $4 billion to state and local governments to fully fund and administer a safe, secure, and accessible 2020 election. [link removed]

We're introducing "A Time for HEROES" ? our series of stories from conservation advocates across the country sharing
why we must protect access to the ballot box by urging Congress to pass the
election provisions of the HEROES Act, as well as provide immediate support for
our communities and sustainably invest in our clean energy economy. Below are
stories that underscore just how important it is that we invest now in
protecting our 2020 elections.

Thank you for all that you do.

Justin Kwasa
Voting Rights Program Director
League of Conservation Voters Protecting the Voting Environment: A Discussion with Former Attorney General Eric Holder and Stacey Abrams [link removed]
This week, LCV was honored to commemorate the past, present, and
future of voting rights with former Attorney General Eric Holder, Fair Fight's
Stacey Abrams, Georgia Conservation Voters' Gayla Tillman, and our own Voting
Rights Program Director Justin Kawasa. Together, they covered the last 55 years
of voting from the VRA to the Shelby v Holderdecision to the current debate regarding election funding in the COVID-19
stimulus packages. WATCH THE FULL WEBINAR ? [link removed] Fighting for Others' Privilege to Vote [link removed]
Nicole Morales, the civic engagement director at Chispa Arizona,
shares her story about why she's fighting for a fair and representative
democracy, even though she can't vote. Although she's lived in Arizona her
entire life, as a DACAmented Latina, she can't cast her vote for the
pro-environment candidates she believes in. Yet she's still organizing her
community to have the tools they need to make their voices heard in the voting
booth and beyond. Protecting our democracy is critical in the fight to protect
our Madre Tierra. WATCH NICOLE'S STORY ? [link removed] As the Pandemic Rages, Voters Struggle to Access the Ballot Box in Wisconsin [link removed]

Amanda Urmanski, a Green Bay Wisconsin, voter, shared her
story of the difficulties she faced voting in the Wisconsin primary on April 7th
with our friends at Wisconsin Conservation Voters. The obstacles Amanda faced
include never receiving her mail-in ballot ? despite requesting it weeks in
advance, having to wait in crowded lines amidst a pandemic, and the limited
number of polling centers in the Green Bay area. A combination of these and
other factors led to incredibly long lines. Her experiences highlight multiple
reasons why it is so important we must act now to implement necessary voter
protections across the county this November. WATCH AMANDA'S STORY ? [link removed] Voting During COVID-19 and Curfews in Washington D.C. [link removed]
Despite the numerous barriers faced during the Washington
D.C. primary on June 2nd, four of our LCV colleagues were determined to have
their voices heard and cast their ballot. Their experiences highlight multiple
reasons why the Senate MUST pass the election provisions of the Heroes Act,
which will provide funding to implement necessary voter protections across the
county this November. Check out their interweaving stories! READ THEIR STORIES NOW ? [link removed] ? ? ? This email was sent to [email protected]. If this isn't the best email address at which to reach you, update your contact information [link removed]. Click here to unsubscribe [link removed] from our supporter list. Send us any comments, criticisms, or feedback here mailto:[email protected]?subject=, or just reply to this email! Thanks for your support.

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