Hi John,
Today marks the 57th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, a law signed by President Johnson in 1965 that transformed electoral participation in our country.
By providing concrete steps to block discriminatory voting laws — which had prevented Black people from voting for nearly 100 years — the Voting Rights Act was a huge step towards a more just and representative democracy.
Unfortunately, it’s been under attack ever since. Supreme Court cases in 2013 and 2021 have significantly weakened provisions of this bedrock law, making it easier for extremist politicians to restrict access to the ballot around the nation. Following the record turnout we saw in 2020, 49 states have introduced a total of 440 bills that would make it harder to vote.
When it comes to our democracy, we need to move forward, not backward. That’s why we’re working hard every day to make sure everyone can cast their ballots freely, safely, and equally.
The best thing you can do right now in the fight for fair representation is to get #VoteReady for the 2022 midterm elections: