Dear John,

You may have seen the headlines yesterday about the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act.

I won’t sugarcoat it: It’s bad news. But I know you turn to VoteRiders for trusted information about our democracy, so let me break down for you exactly what’s going on, and where we go from here.

Yesterday’s decision is nothing short of a blow to our democracy. By weakening the protections of Article 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the court has made it harder for everyone in our country to participate and be represented fairly. This is a ruling that attempts to limit the progress and promise of a thriving, multiracial democracy.

As Justice Kagan’s dissent aptly notes, the Callais opinion is the “latest chapter in the majority’s now-completed demolition of the Voting Rights Act,” which began with Shelby County v. Holder, and opened the floodgates to modern-day voter suppression — particularly the proliferation of voter ID laws.

At VoteRiders, we believe in a democracy that represents all of us, in which every voter’s voice is heard regardless of race, age, income, or any other factor. We believe voters should be able to choose their representatives, not the other way around.

We must demand our elected officials pass broader, bolder protections for voting rights, like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. States must also rise to meet the challenges of this moment with pro-democracy legislation that protects voting rights despite rising barriers to the ballot box and enduring challenges to fair representation.

As we face new barriers to voter participation and a truly representative democracy heading into midterm elections, we encourage you to get involved in our movement. Here are two things you can do right now:

Read and Share → See VoteRiders' full statement on the disastrous Callais opinion. [link removed]

Volunteer → Voters need clear, accurate, trusted information about the voting rules where they live. Sign up to text at-risk voters in North Carolina with us on May 7. [link removed]

Donate → Every new rule change, every new voting barrier, means we have to increase our efforts to reach voters with accurate information. Every gift helps us educate voters and provide them with free help getting their ID to vote. [link removed]

For 14 years, VoteRiders has never backed down from the fight to protect the freedom to vote, and we won’t back down now. Our response to this ruling is to double down on our far-reaching nationwide voter education, mobilization, and action — making sure every eligible voter has the information and ID documents they need to make their voice heard in every election.

Onward,

Lauren Kunis
CEO and Executive Director
VoteRiders

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VoteRiders is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit organization registered in the US under EIN 45-5081831.
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