Friend, today the future of our democracy is at stake.
Congress has combined the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Acts into one proposal — called the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act — and it could come up for a vote in the Senate as soon as today.
If this bill passes the Senate:
It will be easier for every eligible person to register and cast their vote, politicians will no longer be able to silence voters by drawing unfair Congressional districts, and we will be better protected against authoritarian forces who would sabotage our elections.
If this bill does not pass the Senate:
We risk even greater threats to our democracy. Republicans who tried to overturn the 2020 Election will be able to try again. And we might not be as successful in stopping them next time.
So we need to do everything in our power to make sure the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act passes the Senate and gets signed into law.
Please call your senators immediately — urge them to vote in favor of this historic voting rights package when it comes up for a vote today.
Of course, if you’ve been paying close attention to the fight for voting rights, you might know about an outdated Senate rule called the filibuster.
Under the filibuster, most legislation — including bills to protect the right to vote — requires 60 votes for passage.
If the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act does not get the 10 Republican votes it needs to clear this roadblock, the Senate will then consider a rule change that would enable this bill to pass with a simple majority.
That’s why it’s more important than ever for you to contact your senators. We can’t take even one single senator for granted in either of these votes.
We have instructions on how to call your senators and a script if you don’t know what to say. Take a look and then call them as soon as you can — we don’t have much time left!
Even if you have a senator who you think is a lost cause, it’s still important to call. They need to know they are ignoring their constituents if they vote against our democracy.
It’s now or never,
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
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