1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy. Yet for more than a decade, that right has been systematically weakened while Congress has failed to restore the protections that once safeguarded it. It is long past time to act. I urge you to immediately pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. When the Supreme Court dismantled key protections of the Voting Rights Act in the 2013 decision Shelby County v. Holder, it opened the door to a wave of voter suppression across the country. The results were immediate and predictable. Since that ruling, more than 100 state laws restricting access to the ballot have been enacted nationwide. These laws close polling places, impose restrictive identification requirements, limit early voting, and erect bureaucratic obstacles designed to make voting harder for millions of Americans. And now, Congress itself is considering legislation that would make the problem even worse. The proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) would create sweeping new barriers that could threaten the voting access of tens of millions of eligible voters. The burden of these attacks falls most heavily on communities that have historically faced discrimination: Black voters, Latino voters, Native voters, young voters, voters with disabilities, low-income Americans, and LGBTQ+ voters. These are not abstract policy debates—they are deliberate attempts to limit who can participate in our democracy. Voting is not a privilege granted by politicians. It is a fundamental constitutional right that protects every other right Americans possess. Passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore critical federal oversight, prevent discriminatory voting laws before they take effect, and ensure that states with a history of voter suppression cannot quietly erode the right to vote. Your responsibility is clear. If you believe in democracy, you must defend the right to vote. If you believe in the Constitution, you must restore the protections that were stripped away. As your constituent, I am demanding that you support and fight for the immediate passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The future of American democracy depends on whether Congress has the courage to protect the most basic right we have: the right of every citizen to cast a ballot and have it counted. Do your job. Protect the vote.