Statement from Jana Morgan, director of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition:
We applaud the U.S. Senate for reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and bringing us one step closer to safely and freely casting our ballots and creating a democracy that works for all of us.
“Outlawing discrimination against specific groups of voters has historically been a bipartisan act: Since 1965, Democrats and Republicans have come together five times to reauthorize and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S. 4) would restore key provisions of the Voting Rights Act to defend against the wave of anti-voter laws passing in statehouses across the country, and protect voters from racist discrimination at the polls.
“Because 19 states have already enacted 33 anti-voter bills this year, the Senate must act quickly to protect voters before the 2022 midterm elections and honor the late Rep. John Lewis’ commitment to guaranteeing every American has the right to vote free of racially motivated barriers. If Republicans will not share their predecessors’ commitment to free and fair elections, Senate Democrats and President Biden must act immediately to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act with or without the filibuster.”
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