Statements of Support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
The following are statements of support from coalition leaders across the country in response to the reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) in the U.S. Senate. These leaders represent organizations committed to defending and strengthening democracy, and their voices reflect the urgent need to restore and protect voting rights for all.
For press inquiries, please contact Sofia Costas at [email protected].
Molly McGrath, National Director of Democracy Campaigns at ACLU
“We have spent the last decade fighting the unraveling of one of our nation’s most transformative civil rights achievements. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is essential — not just to reverse the damage, but to proactively protect every voter from race-based discrimination and modern-day voter suppression. As we face threats to so many freedoms we hold dear, we must preserve the essential right to vote and therefore the ability to hold our elected officials accountable.”
Hani Mirza, Director of the Power and Democracy Program at Advancement Project
“We applaud the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. If passed, this critical piece of legislation will not only restore the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act, which were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder, through an updated coverage formula, but will also provide key additional protections to fight against voter suppression and vote dilution. In the past decade, we have seen an increased attack on voting rights by states and localities in direct response to the weakening of the Voting Rights Act by federal courts. This legislation provides crucial updates to the Voting Rights Act that will help reverse course and protect the right to vote for all Americans, particularly Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, and other historically marginalized communities who still face discriminatory barriers at the ballot box. We remain steadfast in our commitment to working with partners across the country to protect the right to vote. Our communities must have an equal voice in shaping the future of our nation.”
Randi Weingarten, President, AFT
“Right now, the rights of Americans are disappearing, particularly the right to vote and to determine who represents us, not the other way around. The current efforts to redistrict and change outcomes of elections are insidious. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore a true representative democracy and that’s why AFT supports this legislation.”
Hannah Fried, Executive Director, All Voting is Local Action
“John Lewis risked everything to ensure every voter – especially Black, Brown, Native American, and historically excluded voters – could cast their ballot free from discrimination. Lawmakers from the White House to statehouses continue to erode voting rights, attempting to consolidate power at all levels of government and introducing new barriers to voting – from trying to force Americans to show a passport to vote, to mass voter challenges that would restrict access to the ballot, to major voting rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court that could make it harder for voters to cast a ballot by mail. This is our moment to continue the legacy of John Lewis. The freedom to vote is on the line and now is not the time to sit still.”
Maria Town, CEO and President of the American Association of People with Disabilities
“From the 1965 Voting Rights Act to the Help America Vote Act of 2000, federal protections have been absolutely essential in ensuring that people with disabilities can access the ballot. Since the devastating 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, we’ve seen an avalanche of anti-voter legislation passed at the state level. Many of these bills have disproportionately harmed disabled voters, and in particular Black and Brown disabled voters. Passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is critical for building an accessible democracy where everyone can access the ballot and where every vote counts.”
John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
“In the twelve years since the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Shelby County v. Holder, we have long worked to push back on the loss of protections against voter discrimination. This includes our longstanding support for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which we are pleased to see reintroduced in the Senate. This critical piece of legislation would restore, strengthen and modernize the Voting Rights Act – something that is always needed but especially at this moment when it has been under attack. In this sixtieth year after its original passage, it should be unacceptable that voters of color, including Asian Americans, continue to face systemic barriers to casting their ballots. We urge Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and defend the fundamental right to vote.”
Christine Chen, Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
“With voting rights under attack, the urgency to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) has never been greater. We thank Senator Warnock, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Durbin and their senate colleagues who are reintroducing the bill today. AAPIs are the fastest growing voting bloc in this country and have turned out in record numbers in recent years. Renewed threats to silence our voices, from federal legislative efforts such as the SAVE Act to the many states’ efforts to pass similar anti-voter laws and even attempts to further gerrymander voting districts underscore the need to pass the John Lewis bill. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, passage of this bill is needed more than ever as a safeguard to protect the fundamental right to vote for all Americans and to ensure that our democratic principles are upheld.”
Eliza Sweren-Becker, Deputy Director of the Voting Rights Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law
“It’s more important than ever for Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Sixty years after the Voting Rights Act was passed, the Roberts Court put the legislation on life support, weakening protections for Americans of color. At the same time, discriminatory voting practices and district lines continue to undermine the right to vote and the right to fair representation. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would strengthen the Voting Rights Act’s safeguards and modernize them to meet the threats facing voters today. It must become law.”
Trevor Potter, President, Campaign Legal Center
“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will ensure that every American can make their voice heard without barriers to the ballot. Expanding the freedom to vote remains a necessary and vital fight for our democracy 60 years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Protecting Americans’ access to voting has a documented history of resounding bipartisan support and Congress now has an opportunity to revive this tradition. The time has long passed to fully eliminate racially discriminatory voting laws and practices. This bill is necessary to ensure every American voter is truly able to make their voice heard.”
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO, Children’s Defense Fund
In our country, parents and caregivers use their votes to improve the chances for their children. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would enshrine efforts to preserve this power for current and future voters in the law. Congressman Lewis was a champion for children and families, and a friend to the wider movement for child well-being. We support this bill named in his honor as a means to make real our vision of a nation where the needs of young people are centered so they can thrive.
Donald Sherman, Executive Director and Chief Counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
“It is long past time to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act so we can protect the fundamental right to vote and have all votes counted equally,” said Donald Sherman, Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). Over the past twelve years, the Supreme Court’s evisceration of federal voting rights law has allowed discriminatory vote denial schemes to flourish and new vote dilution tactics to emerge as election deniers attempt to block certain states from certifying their elections. We call on Congress to swiftly pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act, and begin the process of restoring the most fundamental aspect of any democracy: the freedom to vote.”
Christine Wood, Allison Pulliam, Co-Directors Declaration for American Democracy Coalition
“The Supreme Court’s disastrous 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision left voting rights, especially those of people of color, exposed to unchecked attacks by extremist state lawmakers. And now, we’re faced with an administration determined to put up barriers to voting, rather than make it accessible. As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we are compelled to once again call on our elected leaders to take action to protect our sacred freedom to vote. Today’s reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is necessary to restore the Voting Rights Act to its full power and represents a fundamental step forward in ensuring our freedom to vote.”
Brian Lemek, Executive Director of Defend The Vote Action Fund
“We applaud Senators Raphael Warnock and Dick Durbin for reintroducing this bill. It will help ensure our elected leaders are accountable to the people by protecting every citizen’s freedom to vote – particularly in Black and Brown communities that continue to face additional barriers. The Senate should pass it immediately.”
Nick Knudsen, Executive Director, DemCast USA
“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a crucial step towards protecting the fundamental right to vote, which is under relentless attack by Republicans and their voter suppression tactics. By restoring the Voting Rights Act’s full protections, this bill will help to prevent discriminatory voting practices and ensure that every citizen’s voice is heard. Passing this legislation is essential to safeguarding our democracy.”
Susan Corke, Executive Director, Democracy Defenders Action
“This crucial legislation is not just about protecting the right to vote – it’s about confronting a long history of exclusion and disenfranchisement that has systemically targeted Black and Brown communities. For generations, these communities have faced deliberate barriers aimed to silence their voices, and exclude them from daily life, from Jim Crow tactics to modern-day voter suppression laws. At Democracy Defenders Action, we see defending access to the ballot as central to resisting the spread of authoritarianism, which relies on ostracizing those who are already marginalized. Introduced just a few days short of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act becoming law, the JLVRAA arrives at a moment when an administration seeks to erase these hard truths from our history. If we don’t confront and remedy these truths, we’re doomed to repeat them. It is noteworthy that the passing of the first Voting Rights Act in 1965 was met with sweeping bipartisan support, and it would be a disservice to democracy if Congress fails to approve this safeguard again.”
Rebekah Caruthers, President & CEO, Fair Elections Center
“As we approach the 60th anniversary of the historic Voting Rights Act, it’s instructive to reflect that the VRA enjoyed bipartisan support and remained an unparalleled, vital tool for combating racial discrimination in voting for almost 50 years, especially for Black, Latino, Asian, and Indigenous voters. The proposed legislation will restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act, repairing the damage done by the Supreme Court in recent years. At a time of unprecedented attacks on the foundations of our democracy, it is imperative that Congress pass legislation like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to fully restore the VRA and ensure all voters can make their voices heard regardless of who they are and where they live.”
Meredith Sumpter, President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections
“Our country was built on the promise of ‘a government of the people, by the people, for the people.’ Delivering on that ideal is only possible if we protect every single American’s right to vote, regardless of their race. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act does just that, and FairVote is proud to support it once again.”
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs
“The promise of American democracy can only be fulfilled when the right to vote is fully protected. Without key protections from the Voting Rights Act, extremists across the country have pushed voter suppression laws that disproportionately harm those from historically targeted communities, including people of color, immigrants, women, and so many others. The Jewish community knows that our safety is deeply tied to the freedoms and rights of all communities–and to the strength of our democracy. JCPA is proud to once again support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as we work to protect the American people’s fundamental right to shape our government.”
Isabelle C. Muhlbauer, National Advocate Manager for Voting Rights, LatinoJustice PRLDEF
“The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is not just necessary, it’s urgent. It’s essential to protect our voting rights and ensure that the voices of our communities of color are not silenced, restoring the critical protections against racial discrimination and voter suppression tactics that have chipped away at the federal 1965 Voting Rights Act. LatinoJustice will continue to work to ensure the fundamental right to vote and urges Congress to act boldly and pass this bill.”
Shaylyn Cochran, Deputy Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
“The time is now to deliver critical solutions to advance racial justice and civil rights everywhere, and especially at the ballot box. We commend Sen. Durbin and Sen. Warnock for meeting this critical moment for democracy in this country, and for their unrelenting commitment to ensuring that the right to vote is fully protected for the Black and Brown folks who’ve sacrificed all too much for it. As we face an unprecedented wave of authoritarianism in this nation, Black people and other people of color are confronting systemic exclusion aimed at denying them their constitutional right to participate in the democratic process, hence, undermining their ability to play an equal role in shaping the decisions on the most critical issues touching their lives.”
Janai Nelson, President and Director- Counsel, Legal Defense Fund
“We applaud the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a critical step in protecting Black communities that was named in remembrance of one of our nation’s chief voting rights champions. Since the 2013 Shelby County Supreme Court decision that severely weakened the Voting Rights Act, we have seen increasingly targeted attacks on Black voters’ access to the polls and to equal representation. Recent attempts by the executive branch to manipulate our electoral processes in order to entrench power require federal legislation like the VRAA that will protect voters. It is now more important than ever to shield our democracy from rampant voter discrimination. As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we should remember that it has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support since its original enactment, up to and including its most recent reauthorization in 2006. LDF urges Congress in the strongest terms possible to fulfill its responsibility to the Constitution and the electorate by passing the VRAA in order to fully restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act.”
Justin Kwasa, Democracy Program Director, League of Conservation Voters
“We can’t have a healthy environment without a democracy that works for everyone, and we need strong voting rights legislation to protect the people’s right to vote across the country — no matter their race, income, or zip code. After more than a decade of attacks on the Voting Rights Act by MAGA Supreme Court Justices, our freedom to choose our own leaders hangs in the balance. LCV proudly stands with Senator Durbin, Senator Warnock, Leader Schumer and all the Senators fighting to protect the people from racist voter suppression and gerrymandering by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”
Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters
“Named in honor of the late civil rights icon and voting rights champion Congressman John Lewis, this bill seeks to restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which has been undercut by harmful Supreme Court decisions in recent years. The VRAA will reestablish essential protections against racial discrimination in voting and ensure that every American can exercise their right to vote free from barriers and intimidation.”
Priya Purandare, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
“The endeavor to secure equal voting rights requires constant vigilance. The life and legacy of John Lewis are a powerful reminder of it. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is grateful to Senator Durbin, Senator Warnock, and the sponsors for reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. As the Asian American community is the fastest growing community in the nation, coupled with recent court decisions that have limited the reach of the Voting Rights Act, this bill will go a long way to ensure that our community – and all communities of color – have a fair opportunity to make their voice heard at the ballot box.”
Mel Wilson, Senior Policy Advisor at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
“The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is proud to endorse and support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. In the current national atmosphere of growing threats to voting rights and voting protections, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is urgently needed. NASW is firmly committed to working with the voting rights community to help make this legislation become law.”
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP
“Sixty years ago, our nation took a bold step toward justice by passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, that progress is under siege. We applaud and fully support Senators Durbin and Warnock’s introduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to help protect the sacred right to vote. All over the United States, we continue to see coordinated attacks on access to the ballot, especially in Black and Brown communities. Today, we see in real time how important the restoration of preclearance is to protect Black and other minority voting populations. We owe it to the legacy of John Lewis and the countless advocates who fought so we could vote. Congress must work to pass this bill. The integrity of our democracy and the voice of every voter are at stake.”
Ebonie Riley, Senior Vice President, Policy & Strategic Partnerships, National Action Network
“The National Action Network, under the leadership of Rev. Al Sharpton and powered by more than 140 chapters nationwide, fully supports the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Without federal enforcement, state-level voter suppression has flourished from mass purges to racially gerrymandered districts silencing the very voices this democracy depends on. This legislation is not symbolic, it is structural. It restores the teeth of the Voting Rights Act and reestablishes accountability where it has been intentionally dismantled. The fight ahead must include stronger voting rights protections. Our present and future generations deserve fair, unburdened access to the ballot box and Congress has a moral obligation to deliver it.”
Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
“Voting is not a privilege to be granted—it is our fundamental right as Americans, and democracy cannot survive when that right is under attack. From partisan gerrymandered districts to restrictive voting laws, we are witnessing coordinated efforts across the country to silence the voices of our diverse nation. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is essential to protecting every citizen’s vote and ensuring our democratic institutions exist for future generations. It is time for the Congress to pass this legislation now to safeguard the very foundation of our democracy, which is the right to vote.”
Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women
“At National Council of Jewish Women, we believe our voice is our vote. In Hebrew, the word kol means both — voice and vote — a sacred reminder that to vote is to speak up, to act, to repair the world. But today, too many voices are being silenced. Discriminatory laws are stripping millions of their fundamental rights, threatening our ability to live, love, and seek care freely. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a moral necessity. Named for a leader who dedicated his life to justice, it must be passed to protect every American’s sacred right to vote. We are grateful to Senators Durbin and Warnock for championing this cause and urge every member of Congress to join the fight. Because when we raise our voices together, we move justice forward.”
Shavon Arline-Bradley, President & CEO, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW)
“The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) supported the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act when it was first introduced and subsequently reintroduced. We are just as committed today to restoring and strengthening voter rights for all as we were then. With the many barriers we are facing, such as gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the passage of anti-voting laws, now more than ever, we must be vigilant in ensuring this bill passes. NCNW is dedicated to using its collective agency to reaffirm and strengthen voter protections that were removed from the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Sixty years later, who would have thought we would still be fighting this battle? We commend Senators Durbin and Warnock for having the resolve to reintroduce this legislation.”
Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC)
“From a brazen attempt to enact an even more egregious gerrymander in Texas to a concerted legal effort to undermine fair maps in Alabama and Louisiana, to a Department of Justice that has abandoned its duty to enforce voting protections, our nation is experiencing the greatest attack on the right to vote since Jim Crow. These forces are not disguising their intent; in fact, they are reviving the very same arguments put forward by those who opposed the Civil Rights Movement. And this ongoing assault on the right to vote underscores that, nearly 60 years after its passage, the Voting Rights Act remains absolutely necessary and must be strengthened by enacting the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. We owe it to those who sacrificed their lives and well-being for the right to vote — John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, and many others — to continue the good fight. We must honor their legacy and push Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect and strengthen the fundamental right to vote for all Americans.”
Rima Meroueh, Director, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC)
“As a network of grassroots organizations serving Arab Americans and other historically marginalized communities, we see that access to the ballot box directly impacts whether families have what they need to thrive. Representation of their needs matter. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is critical to protecting the voices of Arab Americans, Black voters, immigrants, low-income, and other marginalized communities who continue to face targeted barriers to voting. No one should be silenced because of where they live, what language they speak, their physical abilities, race, or how recently they became citizens. This isn’t about politics; it’s about fairness and self-determination. Voters should be choosing their leaders—not the other way around.”
Christian F. Nunes, NOW National President
“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a powerful tool to stop further erosion of voting rights in America. This Act will protect ballot access for women, people of color, low-income families, young voters, and seniors and ensure democracy’s promise that every voice is heard and valued. As the namesake of the eponymous legislation often asserted, freedom is not a state; it is an act. The National Organization for Women urges Congress to act swiftly and pass this bill in honor of John Lewis’s legacy and in defense of all citizen’s fundamental right to vote.”
Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League
“Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and for more than a century, the National Urban League has been at the forefront of the fight to protect that right. Over the past six months, the growing polarization of American politics has reached historic proportions and erected policies that have left Black, Brown, and other marginalized communities vulnerable. Gone are the days of regular bipartisan reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 because both major parties understood that our imperfect union still needed continual guidance. Reauthorization is a bitter partisan conflict. Congress must take action to modernize the fight for voting rights by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and prove to our people that it still stands for something.”
Emily Martin, Chief Program Officer of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
“With an authoritarian in the White House and a Republican-controlled Congress refusing to act in their constituents’ best interests, protecting and expanding voting rights has never been more urgent,” said Emily Martin, chief program officer of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund. “Abortion access, workplace protections, and the survival of basic need programs are all on the line in this next election. That’s why we are proud to endorse the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and we urge every member of Congress to join us in supporting this vital legislation.”
Markus Batchelor, National Political Director at People For the American Way
“The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is more essential than ever before. Voting rights are in the crosshairs across the country and our democracy hangs in the balance. Restoring the full weight and authority of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is critical to ensure that everyone has a vote that counts, especially voters from Black and Brown and other historically marginalized communities. We strongly support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the fight to reignite the promise of America – that everyone’s voice matters and everyone’s vote counts.”
Justin Florence, Managing Director, Protect Democracy
“Authoritarianism thrives when eligible voters lose access to the ballot box. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act lays out a critical framework to keep our democracy in the hands of the people, not in the grip of those who fear free and fair elections.”
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
“I applaud the Reverend Senator Warnock and Ranking Member Durbin for reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to push back against injustice by restoring the teeth of the Voting Rights Act and providing the tools to address modern day voter suppression. Our Reform Jewish Movement is solemnly aware that our safety, and the safety of all marginalized groups, is intimately tied to the health of our democracy. In this challenging moment of democratic fragility and relentless voter suppression, I am proud to once again support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”
Carolyn DeWitt, President & Executive Director, Rock the Vote
“Rock the Vote is proud to support the reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and urges Congress to pass this critical legislation to safeguard the right to vote. John Lewis was only 25 when he led marchers on Bloody Sunday, a turning point for the passage of the Voting Rights Act a few months later. We honor Rep. Lewis’s enduring legacy by continuing to build the political power of young people–and that includes making sure their voices can be heard at the ballot box. The right to vote is fundamental for our democracy and it is more important than ever that we ensure that every voter, regardless of their age, race, zip code or background, has equal access to the ballot.”
David Goodman, Brother of Andrew Goodman and Board Member, The Andrew Goodman Foundation
“John Lewis was not only a civil rights icon and national treasure, but a close personal friend of mine and a trusted advisor to The Andrew Goodman Foundation. He and my brother Andrew shared a deep commitment to justice, equality, and the power of young people to lead. The reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is not just about honoring John’s legacy, but about protecting our democracy and ensuring every eligible voter has a voice. Passing this legislation is a necessary step toward creating the future they both believed in.”
Rev. Michael Neuroth, Director of the UCC Office of Public Policy & Advocacy
“The continued efforts to undermine our democracy, attack the rule of law, and deny basic human rights from so many will not be blunted unless the systemic inequities in our voting process are addressed. The right to vote is sacred, and all must be granted equal access to exercise this right. If we are to ever realize the lofty values of democracy we as a nation hold dear, we must strengthen the civil rights and electoral systems that are now under threat from growing authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism in our nation. The United Church of Christ stands in support of this landmark legislation, recalling the words of the late Rep. John Lewis who reminds us, ‘Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community.”
Pamela Smith, President and CEO, Verified Voting
“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is essential to protecting that right for all voters. By restoring and strengthening critical pieces of the Voting Rights Act, this bill addresses the ongoing threats to equal access to the ballot box. We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation without delay and ensure an electoral system that is inclusive and secure for all.”
Lauren Kunis, Executive Director at VoteRiders
“The most basic and important of American rights is the right to vote. At VoteRiders, we know how restrictive voting laws, particularly in the form of voter ID laws, create unnecessary barriers to the ballot box, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable communities. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is an essential piece of legislation that ensures fair and equal access to our democracy. John Lewis believed that democracy is an act that requires our unwavering commitment. VoteRiders is proud to support the reintroduction of this bill in the Senate and the critical protections it would provide. We remain steadfast in our work to ensure every voter has the information and ID they need to make their voice heard at the ballot box.”
Beth Lynk, Executive Director, When We All Vote
“Sixty years after the Voting Rights Act and twelve years after the Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted it, more than 400 bills making it harder to vote have already been proposed in 2025. Congressman John Lewis’ legacy reminds us that attacks on our voting rights are part of a centuries-long effort to silence our voices. Those who argue that we don’t need the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act are more interested in keeping up racist barriers to voting than actually protecting our elections. When We All Vote urges the Senate to take real action to protect our democracy and pass this legislation to ensure more eligible voters have access to the ballot box.”
Ann Toback, CEO, The Workers Circle: Jewish culture for a just world
“The passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act is urgently needed to restore our freedom to vote. Since 2013, Supreme Court decisions have weakened the Voting Rights Act and states have passed hundreds of laws making it harder to vote; targeting Black and Brown voters with precision. The federal anti-voter SAVE Act and the President’s Executive Order on elections are imperiling our right to vote. As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act with tens of millions of people facing voter suppression in the US, we remember the civil rights activists whose courage and sacrifice ended Jim Crow and made voting rights a reality for all. We call on Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act without delay.”