Yesterday was the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This is a day we should all take to celebrate one of our country’s most sweeping pieces of civil rights legislation that broke down the racist barriers to the ballot box facing voters of color, particularly Black voters.

It should be a day to celebrate, but in the 56 years since the VRA was enacted, it has been warped and weakened beyond recognition by the Supreme Court. Now, there’s an unprecedented flood of voter suppression bills that could walk back voting rights for years to come.

"This wave of restrictions on voting — the most aggressive we have seen in more than a decade of tracking state voting laws — is in large part motivated by false and often racist allegations about voter fraud."
- Brennan Center for Justice

JOIN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS >>

This year in the wake of Donald Trump’s big lie about the 2020 election, Republican lawmakers have enacted 30 voter suppression laws in 18 states. There are hundreds more bills just like them being considered in nearly every state, including Ohio. And there could be even more restrictive voting bills coming as state legislative sessions resume.

The bill being considered by the Ohio legislature -- which would make it harder for low-income Ohioans in rural and urban communities to vote -- is undoubtedly a violation of the Voting Rights Act, but here’s the problem: The VRA has been gutted by the Supreme Court.

Without the VRA’s landmark protections standing in their way, Republican lawmakers are free to pass and enact these egregious bills and silence voters’ voices at the ballot box.

The founding principle of our grassroots movement is the Dignity of Work and building a country that lifts everyone up -- not just the select few at the top. Those values mean everyone must have a voice in our government. That’s why I’m personally asking you to add your name and join our grassroots movement in the fight to protect voting rights from the attacks against them.

With gratitude,

Sherrod