Friend —

Recently, an overwhelmingly popular bill supported by 8 in 10 people in America across the political spectrum was put in front of the U.S. Senate. And yet Senate Republicans brought it to a screeching halt, once again choosing to use Senate procedures, including the filibuster, to deny the will of the people on a bill with a clear path to being enacted.

All the while, states across the country have been working to pass laws to restrict voting rights, gerrymander districts, and change election laws. That's why to protect our democracy, both the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act must pass the Senate. It's time to turn up the pressure to get these vitally important and interconnected pieces of legislation passed.

Will you demand that your senators support swift debate and passage of both these bills?

While the filibuster has been used for good in the past, today the filibuster is not a tool to foster compromise on Capitol Hill. In fact, some of the arcane rule's most notable uses have been to block legislation that would benefit people of color and other underserved communities across the country. People across the country are demanding bold, transformative action to protect the health of our democracy and our environment, and it's time for the Senate to eliminate the filibuster rule in order to foster change.

We must ensure that our democracy works for and represents ALL people, not just the privileged few. But right now, many states are moving ahead with laws that restrict the right to vote — in particular targeting Black, Indigenous, and people of color to prevent them from participating fully in our democracy. That's why we need to raise our voices together, right now, in support of these two bills that will protect the most basic right of our democracy.

Can you demand action now? We need people to tell their senators today: Abolish the filibuster and pass these vital laws for protecting our democracy »

Fighting back starts with the For the People Act. It takes on state-level voter suppression laws, and goes even further to fight the biggest threats to our democracy today. This bill:

• Expands voting rights, including automatic and same-day voter registration, to make our politicians accountable to all of their constituents;
• Curbs gerrymandering to stop communities from being intentionally underrepresented;
• Strengthens election security and government ethics to ensure a fair and transparent process;
• And revamps campaign finance laws to limit the influence of Big Polluters and other corporate lobbyists in our elections.

But we also need to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that will restore and update the essential portions of the Voting Rights that have been weakened from recent Supreme Court decisions. This bill:

• Allows courts to block discriminatory voting policies BEFORE they go into effect;
• And requires federal approval of new voting laws and redistricting maps from jurisdictions with a history of voter suppression.

Send your message now — we refuse to let our voices be silenced. We need to protect voting rights, advance vital reforms, and abolish the filibuster »

Failure is not an option. The Senate must return to work and deliver the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to create and update national standards that ensure we can safely and freely cast our ballots, make our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities. We need our elected leaders to use every lever of power and influence at their disposal to get this done.

Thank you for taking action today.

Justin Kwasa
Voting Rights Program Director
League of Conservation Voters