August 6, is the 54th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Instead of commemorating the landmark voting rights legislation today, many advocates are in the trenches fighting to curb the voter suppression unleashed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to gut it.
Background
The Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision overturned an essential provision of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) which has led to countless attacks on the voting rights of Americans. But Congress can pass legislation that strengthens and restores the VRA TODAY! Congress currently has legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act but has taken no action despite mounting evidence of voter discrimination. Every day that Congress fails to act, Americans are at risk of facing new barriers at the polls.
We need YOU to contact your Representative and ask them to support H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act.
What does HR 4 do?
H.R. 4 will modernize the coverage formula overturned by the Supreme Court. It will also require nationwide notification of voting changes, promote transparency, and allow voters to have the right information about what is needed to vote before Election Day.
Since Shelby, voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and voter purges have created barriers to voting for all people—especially young people and communities of color—in 20 states across our country. Protecting the right to vote for every citizen is critical to a functioning democracy, which is why passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act to fix the Supreme Court’s abysmal ruling is a major priority.
It’s time to pass H.R. 4 and restore the Voting Rights Act. Please contact your Representative today and ask them to move this legislation forward.
