(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) called for a bipartisan reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in a letter to congressional leaders on Monday. The following is a statement from Jon Greenbaum, chief counsel and senior deputy director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“As states across the nation move to restrict voting rights and disenfranchise voters of color, we need federal action to ensure everyone, no matter their race, ethnicity, or zip code, has equal access to the ballot box. The Voting Rights Act is one of the best tools we have in securing access to the fundamental right to vote free from discrimination, and its reauthorization is urgently needed at this moment. We are pleased to see these two Senators recognize that Congress must address the disastrous 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, and hope they will co-sponsor the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act when it is introduced this session.
“The Voting Rights Act will not only protect our communities of color from the forthcoming discriminatory acts of voter suppression that are already on the move, but will also guarantee that access to the ballot box is safeguarded for years to come. Our democracy demands participation, and encouraging voter turnout is the best way to make sure our elected officials represent the will of the people.”
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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes. For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.
