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Dear John, Voting rights legislation moved back into the Congressional spotlight this week with the reintroduction in the Senate of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act by 48 Democrats in the U.S. Senate, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy of Vermont. And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has signaled the Senate will vote soon on the Lewis bill and another major voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act, developed as a compromise measure after the more comprehensive For the People Act passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. | |
Freedom to Vote is aimed at making it easier to vote and making sure votes are fairly counted, including provisions requiring same-day registration, expanded early voting hours and access and other measures in federal elections. The Lewis bill, named for the late Civil Rights icon and Congressman, is more focused on restoring voting protections in the 1965 Voting Rights Act that were significantly eroded by recent Supreme Court decisions. The Brennan Center reports that nearly 30 new laws restricting access to voting had been enacted in 17 different states in the first half of 2021, with more pending. | |
The American Sustainable Business Council believes our economy depends on our democracy and the principles of fairness, equity and universal access. While study after investigation finds voter fraud to be rare and insignificant, the real problem is voter participation, with turnout rates showing one-third to one half of eligible voters not casting ballots. Imagine the impact to your business if you simply weren’t engaging up to half of your potential customers. Please join the effort to demonstrate the strong business support for Senate action on these two measures which are critical to assuring our elections remain free, fair and open to all our citizens. While no date has been set for these bills to come to the floor, votes are expected in the next few weeks, making it essential you show your support now. | |
