On August 17th, the House of Representatives introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4). The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is much-needed legislation that would protect voters and hold states and jurisdictions accountable for administering elections fairly. This critical legislation would also: - Establish new review and approval criteria for preventing racial discrimination in voting;
- Require federal review of specific voting practices known to have been used to discriminate against voters of color;
- Mandate greater nationwide transparency of voting law and policy changes;
- Restore voters’ ability to challenge racial discrimination in court;
- Allow the U.S. Department of Justice to compel jurisdictions to produce documents to investigate voting rights violations;
- Pause discriminatory voting changes during judicial review.
Today, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Tell your Representative to vote YES for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act! It has been nearly eight years since the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision which effectively invalidated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, removing protections for voters of color across the country. This portion of the Act prohibited discriminatory laws and practices against voters and is a necessary provision in maintaining true democratic elections. Since this ruling, many states and local governments have passed extremely restrictive voting laws making it more challenging for many Black, Indigenous and people of color who have been historically oppressed. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the federal government’s ability to block state and local governments from passing racially discriminatory bills and restore voting protections stripped away in the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling and further damaged by the 2021 Brnovich v. DNC decision. As people of faith, we have a responsibility to ensure everyone is able to participate in politics out of a concern for, and commitment to, the good of the community. Therefore, it is essential to promote equality and ensure that everyone has the ability to make their voice heard in our democracy. As the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." We must stand up for justice for all people! Tell Your Representative to vote YES for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R.4)! | 
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