THE FOR THE PEOPLE ACT RESTORES PROTECTIONS FOR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

The 1965 Voting Rights Act enforced the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th amendments.  Through Federal oversight, it removed Jim Crow barriers to voting set up by states to disenfranchise Black voters.

In 2013, the conservative US Supreme Court gutted the VRA.  They opened the gates to the destructive forces of voter suppression, one party minority rule, Jim Crow, and white nationalism.

And those forces have been busy, enacting voter ID laws, eliminating polling places, purging voter rolls, etc. aimed at suppressing BIPOC voters and keeping Republicans in power. Red states will use the 2020 census to further gerrymander Congressional districts.

The For the People Act, (H.R.1 and S.1) restores federal oversight to end unconstitutional voter suppression. It requires states to adopt independent redistricting commissions so we choose our MoCs.

When he introduced S1, Senator Merkley said, “Everyone who believes in our Constitutional vision should support reforms that make sure the American people are able to vote.”

This may be the most important legislation for our democracy in decades. We need to support our representatives in Congress who are working for it, and urgently express our support of it to those who are not.

1. Call the Senate.

Script Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I thank the Senator for acting as the lead Senate sponsor for S.1, the For the People Act. I ask him to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I know that the Senator supports the voting rights of all Americans. I ask him to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Since November, 33 states have introduced bills designed to suppress the votes of Black and brown citizens, and SCOTUS has undermined protections guaranteed in the VRA. It’s vital to our democracy to restore Federal oversight to prevent these discriminatory tactics. I expect my Senator to believe in American democracy, not white supremacy propped up by Jim Crow laws. I expect them to support the For the People Act.

2. Call the House.

Look up your rep.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I thank the Representative for co-sponsoring the For The People Act. I ask her to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Since November, 33 states have introduced bills designed to suppress the votes of Black and brown citizens, and SCOTUS has undermined protections guaranteed in the VRA. It’s vital to our democracy to restore Federal oversight to prevent these discriminatory tactics. I expect my Representative to believe in American democracy, not white supremacy propped up by Jim Crow laws. I expect them to support the For the People Act.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I thank the Representative for co-sponsoring the For The People Act. I ask him to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I thank the Representative for co-sponsoring the For The People Act. I ask him to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

I want to thank the Representative for co-sponsoring the For The People Act. I ask him to advocate forcefully for the provisions in this bill that protect the voting rights of all Americans. Federal oversight to prevent suppression tactics, including gerrymandering, being used by some states to suppress the votes of Black and brown voters is vital to our democracy.

Action 3 - Make Calls with IO to help pass HR1/S1

Join us this week for our first voter outreach event as we partner with Common Cause to connect voters in key states with their Members of Congress in support of the For The People Act. This phonebank event will be Saturday, 12-2 pm. https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/phonbank-hr-1-02-20-21.