Today, Rep. Terri Sewell introduced the Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) in the House (H.R. 4) and Senator Patrick Leahy introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Todd A. Cox, Policy Director at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., issued the following statement:
“The Voting Rights Advancement Act is a voter protection bill that our democracy requires. There is no disputing the fact that the destructive Supreme Court decision in Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder invited numerous states to unleash voter suppression tactics that had not been allowed for nearly 50 years, particularly in parts of our country with the worst records of racial discrimination in voting. From foreign interference in elections to voter purges, intimidation, and strict ID laws – the fragility of our electoral system has truly been exposed and the need for reforms never more pressing. Evidence of widespread discrimination against Black voters is overwhelming and growing, and the need for legislative action is urgent. Congress must do its job and fully consider the VRAA and ultimately restore this indispensable democracy checkpoint.
“Earlier this year, Congress also introduced H.R. 1, a critical set of election reforms that would significantly expand voter access. Together, H.R. 1 and the VRAA provide many of the needed protections to ensure our political process is accessible to all.”
Press:
###
Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.
