Hey John —

The largest voting rights package in modern history was approved by the House of Representatives — but it will die in the Senate unless we all raise our voices.

Can you help?

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a major, comprehensive piece of legislation aimed to create a more equitable democratic process. The law will restore Civil Rights-era voter protections that the Trump Administration rolled back, and it will create new safeguards given the changes in how people vote — and how politicians attempt voter suppression — in this day and age.

The biggest impact of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act is called preclearance: jurisdictions with a proven history of voter suppression and discrimination will have to check with an unbiased court before they make new voting policy changes. It’s a simple idea — someone who has abused their power before should be watched more closely so it doesn’t happen again.

John Lewis and his colleagues in the Civil Rights Movement made preclearance a keystone of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and it was the law of the land until 2013. But losing this safeguard was a massive blow that enabled the constant attacks on voting access that we saw in 2020 and continue today. Now is our chance to restore John Lewis’s legacy.

John, please sign on to urge the Senate to pass the largest voting rights package in modern history. Congress: Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act →

Gridlock in the Senate has let the bill stall out, and we are in danger of losing this monumental piece of legislation if we do not demand action. NAACP president Derrick Johnson said:

“We have a problem here. We have Republicans on one side saying the bill isn’t needed, and then we have far too many Democrats who lack the sense of urgency that it’s going to be absolutely critical to protect the rights of voters. … Our democracy will be in shambles if it’s not done.”

So John, we are asking you to raise your sense of urgency. If we all use our voices, we can summon the political will to demand the Senate take action. If we sit back and let the bill die, we may never live in a country in which every citizen — regardless of race, creed, class, or party — can participate in the democratic process.

Thanks, John. We’re counting on you.

— Team Bishop

[1] Derrick Johnson quoted here.

[2] If you are interested in supporting Congressman Sanford Bishop’s leadership in passing this voting rights package and other efforts to pursue justice for all, consider a small contribution to his reelection campaign: secure.actblue.com/donate/sanford-bishop.

Paid for by Sanford Bishop for Congress