On Tuesday, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was reintroduced in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). The bill would modernize and restore crucial protections against racial discrimination in voting and representation after the Supreme Court dismantled core parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court gutted a central component of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013, opening the door to more than 100 discriminatory laws across the country that make it harder to vote, enabling racially biased district maps, and contributing to a growing turnout gap between white voters and voters of color.
Eliza Sweren-Becker, Deputy Director of the Brennan Center’s Voting Rights Program, had the following reaction:
“It’s more important than ever that the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act becomes law. Next week, we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act. For decades, that landmark civil rights legislation moved the country towards greater equality in voting and representation for voters of color.
“The Roberts Court disrupted that progress when it began chipping away at the law’s critical protections. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, named for a fierce champion of the Voting Rights Act, would restore the Voting Rights Act to full force. The Senate must pass it.”
###
