One day after the voting rights bill was filibustered by Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden said he is open to ending the filibuster for that bill -- "and maybe more."1
This is a huge opportunity to save our democracy, and it comes not a moment too soon: Donald Trump and his allies are working overtime laying the groundwork to suppress the vote and undermine free and fair elections across the country. We cannot let them succeed. Congress needs to act on Biden's words, but we're running out of time.
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. The New York Times, "Biden Is Open To Scrapping Filibuster For Voting Rights Bill 'and Maybe More'," October 21, 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.