“The Supreme Court’s disastrous 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision left voting rights, especially those of people of color, exposed to unchecked attacks by extremist state lawmakers. Today’s reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4) is necessary to restore the Voting Rights Act to its full power and represents a fundamental step forward in ensuring our freedom to vote.
“Today’s release of census data starts the clock for states to begin the redistricting process, and marks the beginning of gerrymandering’s next attack on fair representation. Without protection from the For the People Act, Americans are looking at another 10 years where politicians pick their voters, rather than the other way around.”
The Declaration for American Democracy coalition and 22 member organizations issued statements calling for August recess to be delayed until the For the People Act is passed.
The testimony during today’s field hearing on voting rights painted a grim picture of the real life consequences of the attack on our freedom to vote that we’ve heard time and time again. The unfortunate reality is that what Georgia voters experienced during the last election and in decades past is not unique.
Thousands of advocates in 42 states across the country held more than 150 “Good Trouble Candlelight Vigils for Democracy,” yesterday to mark one year since the passing of Rep. John Lewis.
