Reject the SAVE Act - Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy—and you are failing to protect it. For more than a decade, this body has stood by while that right has been systematically weakened. Your inaction after the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted core protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is not just negligence—it is complicity. The consequences were immediate and entirely predictable. In the wake of that ruling, states across the country rushed to enact restrictive voting laws—closing polling places, slashing early voting, imposing burdensome ID requirements, and erecting bureaucratic barriers designed to keep eligible Americans from the ballot. More than 100 such laws have been passed. This is not coincidence. It is a coordinated rollback of voting rights. And now, instead of correcting course, Congress is considering making it worse. The so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) would impose sweeping new restrictions that threaten the voting access of tens of millions of eligible citizens. That is not election security—it is voter suppression, codified. If you are serious about protecting elections, there is a clear and immediate solution: pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This legislation would restore the full strength of the Voting Rights Act by reestablishing federal oversight of jurisdictions with a history of discrimination and stopping suppressive laws before they can take effect. It would protect voters, not politicians. Make no mistake about who is being targeted. These attacks fall hardest on Black voters, Latino voters, Native voters, young people, voters with disabilities, low-income Americans, and LGBTQ+ citizens. These are deliberate efforts to decide who gets a voice in this country—and who does not. Voting is not a privilege granted by those in power. It is a fundamental constitutional right that protects every other right we have. Undermining it undermines the legitimacy of our entire system of government. Your responsibility is not ambiguous. It is not optional. It is to defend the Constitution and ensure that every eligible American can cast a ballot and have it counted. As your constituent, I am demanding immediate action. Reject the SAVE Act. Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay. The future of American democracy will be defined by what you do—or fail to do—right now. Do your job. Protect the vote.