Protect the Right to Vote
Photo from the August 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
On this day in 1963, approximately 250,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. for the March on Washington. From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, they were introduced to a fiery young activist from Alabama named John Lewis and witnessed Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. Our Civil Rights heroes' relentless pursuit of freedom and equality paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But now, our right to vote is once again under threat.
A 2013 Supreme Court decision. In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court struck down a key provision in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, permitting nine states to change their election laws without prior federal approval. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the opinion for the majority and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote a passionate dissent. At the heart of their disagreement was a fundamental question: are there still barriers to voting in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination?
Notorious RBG was correct. Barriers still exist. In 2018, the bipartisan and independent U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a report confirming that measures such as voter ID laws, voter roll purges, and closing polling places “wrongly prevent some citizens from voting” and “have a disparate impact on voters of color and poor voters.”
Look no further than Florida. Two years ago, Florida voted to amend their state constitution and restore voting rights for some formerly incarcerated people. The Republican-controlled Legislature tried to limit that amendment with a condition: they would have to pay legal fees first. In May of this year, a federal judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional. But in July, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stopped the judge's order from taking effect. Two formerly incarcerated people appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided it will not intervene.
Register to Vote. When We All Vote is a nonpartisan non-profit that aims to increase participation in every election. On their site, you can learn more about registering to vote and voter suppression. Vote.org uses technology to make political engagement easier. On their site, you can set election reminders, register to vote, check your registration, and contact the Election Protection Hotline.
Contact Your Senators. The House passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act, now known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, in 2019. In stark contrast to decades of bipartisan support for the Voting Rights Act, the Senate has yet to vote. The ACLU created an easy form to contact senators about this issue. You can also visit the United States Senate website to find your senators' phone numbers, social media sites, and direct contact forms.
Know Your Rights. The ACLU created a guide about voter suppression with scenarios you can print and/or share on social media. It covers everything from your general rights, to disability rights, and what to do if you encounter voter intimidation.
Support Voting Rights Campaigns. Campaigns like More Than A Vote need participation and amplification. The organization was launched this summer by athletes and artists who want to stop voter discrimination. In July, given Florida's discriminatory policy noted above, they helped cover legal fees for formerly incarcerated people.