Voting Rights

Voting Rights Advancement Act

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Voter ID

Voter suppression is real

We support the Voting Rights Advancement Act.

The landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 banned discriminatory practices—like literacy tests, poll taxes, intimidation, threats, and violence—and extended voting protections to millions of racial, ethnic, and language minority citizens.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in its Shelby County v. Holder ruling.

Twenty-five states have imposed new restrictions ranging from strict photo ID requirements to early voting cutbacks to making it harder to register to vote, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

The Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 would require states and localities with a history of voter discrimination to get approval from the U.S. Department of Justice before changing their election laws.

As efforts to suppress the vote continue—for example, through measures to deter student voting or limit absentee ballots—the need for protections persists.

Take Action!

Support strong public schools by taking these actions today.

Support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S. 561)

August 6 was the 55th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Voting Rights Act, key portions of which were invalidated in 2013 by the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby v. Holder. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) is a direct response to that decision. Recent primary elections have been riddled with problems that could be avoided if we had the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. The House passed the VRAA in December 2019, after a dozen hearings documenting the continued persistence of racial discrimination in voting. Now, it’s up to the Senate.

Email your senators and tell them to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Bills in Congress

S 561

A bill to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965

HR 6807

A bill to expand voting by mail, early voting, and improve the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of in-person voting during elections for federal office.

S 3725

A bill to expand voting by mail, early voting, and improve the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of in-person voting during elections for federal office.