Mitch McConnell just filibustered the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act for the fourth time this year. Thankfully, President Joe Biden announced recently that he is open to ending the filibuster to get key voting rights legislation passed.
There's not a moment to lose. Donald Trump and his allies are mobilizing to use their victory in Virginia as a springboard to suppress the vote and undermine free and fair elections across the country. We cannot let them succeed. Congress needs to act, but we're running out of time, with 2022 coming up fast.
Sign the petition: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass voting rights legislation NOW!
It's been nearly 10 months since President Biden took office -- and Congress still hasn't acted to protect voting rights, even as Trump and his allies step up their attack on democracy.
Meanwhile, Trump's allies are busy seizing control of elections at the state and local level, gerrymandering Congressional districts in their favor, and threatening to undermine the next presidential election.2
Trump is already planning his own package of election legislation that he and the Republicans will pass if they seize power again -- a national version of the new Jim Crow bills Republicans already adopted in Texas, Florida, and Georgia.3
Voting rights advocates are increasingly alarmed at Congress' failure to act, even after the January 6 insurrection and its aftermath showed how serious the threat to democracy has become.
Reverend William J. Barber II, the founder of the Poor People's Movement and strong advocate of federal action on voting rights, recently said that America is now at the "most critical time, between life and death."4 Passing legislation to protect and expand voting rights is essential to staving off a terrible outcome.
Congress isn't taking voting rights seriously enough. President Biden just gave them a huge opening to act. We need to send them a message right now that they must act to protect our democracy -- before it's too late.
Add your name: Tell Congress to end the filibuster and pass voting rights legislation NOW!
Sources:
1. Reuters, "U.S. Senate Democrats return to voting rights with eye on filibuster," November 3, 2021.
2. Vox, "The Redistricting Wars," September 20, 2021.
3. Politico, "Trump allies eye election law push should he be reelected," October 15, 2021.
4. Salon, "Rev. William J. Barber II: America is now at the 'most critical time, between life and death'," September 20, 2021.