Read more about the fight for democracy and voting rights from activists, elected officials, legal experts, data analysts and others. Use the drop-down menu to organize by subject.
Now, a compromise bill, the Freedom the Vote Act — based on the For the People Act and a framework announced by Sen. Joe Manchin earlier this summer — offers Democrats a path forward. This is the vehicle that can become law.
In today’s piece, we walk through what the Freedom to Vote Act would do to expand access to voting and protect our elections, how it compares to the For the People Act and what its prospects for passage in the Senate are.
As Black women born and raised in the South, we know all too well the painful history of voting discrimination in this nation. We grew up listening to the stories of literacy tests, poll taxes, and other barriers to the ballot box.
If the bill is enacted, more citizens will be able to have their votes counted. And, those of us fighting suppression laws in court will have the tools necessary to achieve fast, consistent victories.
In today’s Explainer, we’re reflecting on Congressman John Lewis powerful legacy and breaking down the landmark voting rights bill he championed—the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4.
We cannot count on the courts to defend the right to vote. It will be legislation, not litigation, that ensures our democracy is strong and that our federal elections in 2022 and beyond are free and fair.
Not all bad laws come in big packages labeled voter suppression. Not all disenfranchisement tactics make the nightly news. Yet, regardless of the size of the law, the tragic result for democracy is the same.
The GOP in Texas can feel a diminishing grip on power, and in its thirst for control, has sold its soul to discrimination replacing constitutional protectionism with a rollback of voting rights for the disenfranchised.
The fight for voting rights requires us to use all the tools available to protect our democracy. From the courts, to Congress, to direct action, we can make a difference and protect our elections.
Limiting access to the ballot box weakens our electoral system. But, there’s another side effect of voter suppression laws: Limiting ballot access can have severe economic consequences for a state.
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