African Americans Must Be Informed and Get Engaged to Pressure Congress to Enact H.R. 9, the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization

The right to vote – to participate fully and fairly in the political process–is the foundation of our democracy. For years after the Civil War, many Americans were denied this fundamental right of citizenship. Horrible acts of violence and discrimination, including poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses were used to deny African American citizens the right to vote, especially in the South.

During the 1960s, many brave men and women fought against bigotry and injustice to secure this most basic right for all Americans. Enacted in 1965, the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the “crown jewel” of our civil rights statutes, was born out of their courage, struggle, and sacrifice. It provided protection to minority communities, and prohibited any voting practice that would abridge the right to vote on the basis of race. Any “test or device” for registering or voting was forbidden, thereby abolishing poll taxes and literacy tests.

Section five of the VRA addresses “pre-clearance” and is only applicable in certain parts of the country. State and local political jurisdictions with a documented history of discrimination must submit any proposed changes to their voting laws to the U.S. Attorney General or to federal judges for “pre-clearance” before the changes can take effect. This process ensures that the federal government can protect voters by preventing discriminatory voting laws before they are implemented.

In 1975, the VRA was expanded to protect the voting rights of significant language minority voters. Section 203 ensures that language assistance for new citizens and other Americans who have limited English abilities is available at voting polls.

The “pre-clearance” provision and the language assistance provision will expire this coming year if Congress fails to act. The House was scheduled to debate and vote on these provisions last month. A small group of Republicans who question the need for the provisions were able to get the bill removed from consideration. My colleagues and I are outraged about the House actions.

The Voting Rights Act has played a key role in reversing the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans and other minorities fostered by segregation and oppression. The success of the VRA has led to significant political achievement and greater minority representation at all levels of government. According to the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, today there are more than 9,100 African American and 6,000 Latino elected officials across the country, and the number of Asian Americans holding elected office has tripled.

The fundamental right of African Americans to vote is guaranteed under the 15th Amendment and protected under the Constitution. It is important to stress that our right to vote is not in jeopardy; however, the administration and regulation of the voting process is an ongoing issue. Congress must quickly enact H.R. 9, the bipartisan, bicameral Voting Rights Act Reauthorization, which strengthens and renews the expiring provisions of the VRA for another 25 years and reaffirms the enduring principle of our democracy: every citizen is guaranteed the right to vote.

It is critical for Americans to act now. You must do two things. First, become better informed about the issues related to the VRA. Second, get engaged. Call or write your elected officials. Send editorials to your local newspapers. We must speak up and speak out against efforts to stall the passage of this important bill.

The Voting Rights Act is one of our nation’s most crucial civil rights victories. It commemorates the lives and legacies of those who marched, struggled, and died to secure the right to vote for all Americans. We must continue our efforts to protect the rights of every American voter with H.R. 9, the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization, because the right to vote must never be compromised.

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