WASHINGTON — Today, the US Senate introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) to protect and strengthen our democracy. The League of Women Voters proudly supports this critical legislation. Celina Stewart, Esq., CEO of the League of Women Voters, issued the following statement:  

“Named in honor of the late civil rights icon and voting rights champion Congressman John Lewis, this bill is not just a tribute, it’s a necessity. The Voting Rights Advancement Act is a direct response to the relentless attacks on our democracy, including recent attempts by states to disturb current representation through mid-cycle redistricting. After a decade of US Supreme Court decisions that gutted key provisions, this bill would restore the Voting Rights Act’s full power and finally put guardrails back in place to stop racial discrimination at the ballot box. Without it, the right to vote remains vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. 

“Next week, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the VRA, landmark legislation that guaranteed voters of color would no longer face discriminatory barriers that prevented them from exercising their right to vote. The VRA remains necessary to this day to prevent voter discrimination for all of us, no matter what language we speak, the color of our skin, or the zip code we live in. In the decades since it was passed into law, the VRA has been reauthorized every time with bipartisan support and signed by presidents of both political parties. We urge the Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay and stand on the right side of history. 

“For more than a century, the League of Women Voters has fought to make our elections fair, accessible, and inclusive. Today, as states enact restrictive voting measures that disproportionately impact communities of color, the need for robust federal protections could not be clearer. The VRAA answers that call by restoring the federal government’s ability to review changes to voting laws that could disenfranchise voters and by ensuring transparency in the electoral process. 

“The League calls on every member of Congress to support this legislation.”

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