Protect the Right to Vote—Stop Failing the American People

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 following Shelby County v. Holder—which gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965—was not a passive mistake. It was a choice. And the consequences were immediate, predictable, and devastating. In the wake of that decision, 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 passed. That is not coincidence—it is a coordinated rollback of fundamental rights. And the Supreme Court has only made matters worse. By allowing partisan gerrymandering to stand, the Court has effectively sanctioned the manipulation of electoral maps for political gain—permitting politicians to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. This is not a functioning democracy. It is a distortion of one. Now, instead of correcting course, Congress is considering deepening the damage. The so-called 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 into federal law. If you are serious about protecting elections, there is a clear and immediate path forward: 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 take effect. It would protect voters—not politicians clinging to power. 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—the right that safeguards every other right we have. When you undermine it, you undermine the legitimacy of our entire system of government. Your responsibility is clear. 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.