The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act can reverse the war on voting rights
Jump to today’s scripts:
BACKGROUND
This week the House will vote to advance the John Lewis VRAA, seeking to invalidate dozens of new state laws suppressing the vote.
The Act will invalidate the wave of state laws passed this year to block certain voters and rig elections.
The Act will also restore and strengthen the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the Supreme Court gutted.
States made it easier to vote during the pandemic. But the outcome of the 2020 election was, according to Trump and allies, “stolen” by fraudulent votes and problems with vote counting.
Based on this “Big Lie,” states, especially Republican-controlled states, passed 30 laws that suppress the votes of minority populations. Some of these new laws have the potential to rig elections.
The John Lewis Act would stop states that have rolled back the pandemic-era laws.
This protection against the massive limitation of minority voting rights will undoubtedly be litigated to the Supreme Court, which is no friend of minority voting rights.
In several devastating, but little-noticed, rulings, the Supreme Court gutted the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The Act would reverse the most egregious of these decisions.
Take action and show your support for the John Lewis Act.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for 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 support your vigorous efforts to protect voting rights. And I support the voting protection features of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act. Because this is a fight for democracy, you must overcome the filibuster.
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 greatly appreciate your hard work on the budget. But I’m calling because I would like you to speak out as vigorously in support of the two voting rights bills as you have about cryptocurrency. The vote is the foundation of our democracy. It must be protected from these assaults by states and by the Supreme Court.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The freedom to vote is fundamental to our democracy. When you return to Washington, I expect you to honor your vow to protect the Constitution and vote for the voting rights legislation that is introduced.
2. Call the House.
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 am calling to thank you for co-authoring the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act. This bill has been expertly crafted to push back on the assaults on voting by states and the Supreme Court. Voting, John Lewis said, is “not guaranteed.” I support your fight to protect it.
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].
By not supporting the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, you are actively undermining democracy and spitting on every grave in Arlington cemetery. The country and your constituents deserve better.
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 am calling to thank you for co-authoring the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act. This bill has been expertly crafted to push back on the assaults on voting by states and the Supreme Court. Voting, John Lewis said, is “not guaranteed.” I support your fight to protect it.
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 am calling to thank you for co-authoring the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act. This bill has been expertly crafted to push back on the assaults on voting by states and the Supreme Court. Voting, John Lewis said, is “not guaranteed.” I support your fight to protect it.
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 am calling to thank you for co-authoring the John Lewis Voting Advancement Act. This bill has been expertly crafted to push back on the assaults on voting by states and the Supreme Court. Voting, John Lewis said, is “not guaranteed.” I support your fight to protect it.
3. Take Action
Face your senator or representative at a town hall this week and tell them your views on the threats to voting rights.
Write letters telling Biden he has to forcefully support changing the filibuster to allow passage of the voting rights bills by the majority. Guidance for letters provided by the Sierra Club.
Join the civil rights March On Voting Rights this Saturday or start your own. March On for Voting Rights Website.
To preserve our freedom to vote, Congress must hear from constituents across the country. So please email/text this action to 5 friends in other states – especially those in red states and Delaware (where its two senators have rejected filibuster reform)– and ask them to call today.
FURTHER READING:
Democrats have finally identified the greatest threat to voting rights — the Supreme Court - Vox
Pelosi backs John Lewis Act hoping to save voting rights from the Supreme Court - Vox
John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act one pager.pdf
House Democrats Introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Legislation - The New York Times
Justice Department civil rights chief calls on Congress to pass voting rights bill - CNNPolitics
Supreme Court: The 50-year war to crush voting rights in the US - Vo
Bill Text.pdf - the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
John Lewis Voting Rights Act could thwart state plans to curb access - Georgia Recorder
Rightwing lobbies and dark money funders backing assaults on voting rights | Republicans | The Guardian
