1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy. Without it, every other right and freedom becomes vulnerable. Yet for years, Congress has failed to meet its responsibility to protect that right for all Americans. Your inaction after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Shelby County v. Holder opened the floodgates to voter suppression across the country. The protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were weakened, and states immediately moved to restrict access to the ballot box through polling place closures, cuts to early voting, burdensome voter ID laws, voter roll purges, and endless bureaucratic obstacles aimed at discouraging participation. These laws were not accidental. They were designed to make voting harder for millions of eligible Americans. The damage did not stop there. The Supreme Court’s refusal to stop partisan gerrymandering has allowed politicians to manipulate district maps so they can choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. That is not democracy. It is political entrenchment designed to silence communities and protect power at any cost. Now Congress is considering making this crisis even worse through the SAVE Act, legislation that would create new barriers to voting for countless eligible citizens. Millions of Americans—including married women, military families, seniors, rural voters, and working people who lack easy access to required documentation—could face unnecessary obstacles just to exercise a constitutional right. That is not election security. It is voter suppression disguised as reform. The American people deserve better. If Congress is serious about protecting democracy, then there is a clear path forward: pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act immediately. This legislation would restore critical protections against discrimination in voting, strengthen federal oversight in states with a documented history of voter suppression, and stop discriminatory laws before they disenfranchise voters. It would help ensure that every eligible American—regardless of race, income, zip code, disability, age, gender identity, or political affiliation—has equal access to the ballot box. Because this issue affects every American. Black voters, Latino voters, Native voters, Asian American voters, young voters, seniors, voters with disabilities, LGBTQ+ Americans, low-income communities, and rural voters have all faced barriers that threaten their full participation in our democracy. When any eligible citizen is denied fair access to vote, the integrity of our entire system is weakened. Voting is not a privilege reserved for the powerful or politically connected. It is a constitutional right. It is the voice of the people. And it is your duty to protect it. As your constituent, I am demanding immediate action: Reject the SAVE Act. Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay. Protect free and fair elections for every eligible American. History will remember whether Congress defended democracy when it mattered most—or stood by while it was dismantled piece by piece. Do your job. Protect the vote. Protect American democracy.