Washington, D.C. — Today, a group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced legislation that would restore protections from the Voting Rights Act provision that was thrown out by the Supreme Court last year. In response, Tom Perriello, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, issued the following statement:
Protecting the integrity of our elections and the fundamental right to vote is a nonpartisan issue that even this divided Congress should be able to agree on.
We welcome the bipartisan legislation introduced today to continue the effort to overcome the egregious history, and too often present reality, of civil rights violations that limit the right of every citizen to vote and undermine the integrity of our democracy.
This bill does not address all of the harms done by the Supreme Court’s erroneous Shelby County decision and includes a problematic carve-out for onerous voter ID requirements, but it marks the start of a much-needed dialogue about eliminating restrictions on voting and is an important step forward that will help protect the fundamental civil rights of all Americans.
We hope this marks the beginning of a renewed stand against voting-related discrimination in our country. If this Congress fails to protect the right to vote—something overwhelming bipartisan majorities have done for two generations—it would be a new low, even for a body already facing record levels of unpopularity.
To speak with experts on this issue, please contact Madeline Meth at [email protected].
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