Friends, 

Tomorrow marks the 153rd anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment. This amendment prohibited states from denying men the right to vote because of the color of their skin. While the promise of this amendment should have been revolutionary, individual states continued to put discriminatory practices in place to block equal access to the ballot box. 

It wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that these practices, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, were deemed unlawful. 

While these types of discriminatory practices feel far away, a form of them still exists in communities across our nation. States continue to make voting information confusing or difficult to find. Polling places are located in inconvenient places, or the hours are restrictive. 

We can do better, John.

In Congress, I’m fighting for equal access to voting for EVERY American citizen. Our democracy functions best when every eligible voter can make their voice heard. Voting rights need to be protected so participating in elections is convenient for every citizen of our country. 

So while we recognize that we have come a long way since 1870, our work is not yet complete. I’m committed to keeping up this important work and fighting for voting rights for all. 
 
Best,

Wiley Nickel

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