Today, Robert Brandon, president & CEO of Fair Elections Center, issued the following statement after The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives:
WASHINGTON — Across our nation today, the promise of democracy is at risk. States have introduced more than 400 bills and enacted 30 laws that erect barriers to the ballot box for millions of Americans, particularly students and people of color. No matter our background, our race, or where we are from, all of us have the right to have an equal say in how key decisions are made on issues that affect everyone. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will restore the essential portion of the Voting Rights Act that blocks discriminatory voting policies before they go into effect, putting a transparent process in place for protecting everyone’s freedom to vote.
As Congress confronts this serious threat to our democracy, we urge it to enact this crucial piece of legislation, and restore the federal government’s ability to prevent state and local governments from implementing racially discriminatory bills. The freedom to vote is a core principle of our democracy, and for democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all.
