Urge Congress to Support the Freedom to Vote Act
Last week, Representative John Sarbanes (MD-3) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) introduced the Freedom to Vote Act into the 118th Congress. Having successfully passed the House of Representatives in both 2019 and 2021, this sweeping voting rights legislation is once again making its push through Congress with strong support by leadership in both the House and Senate, the help of pro-democracy organizations, and the voice of advocates like you. Tell your elected officials in Congress to continue to make the Freedom to Vote Act a priority.
Millions of Americans are living in states that have severely restricted their voting rights. State legislatures have used nefarious maneuvers such as the purge of voter rolls, voter identification requirements, and curbing of early voting to stifle and suppress the will of their constituencies. These laws have created needless barriers at the ballot box and especially exacerbated racial disparities. We know even more harmful laws are coming that will threaten the stability of our election system, make it harder for people to vote, and encourage corrupt tactics that tarnish fairness and transparency.
In order to make progress on the issues that Americans care most about, such as health care, racial justice, reproductive rights, and environmental justice, we must build a system that serves the people—not the interests of the rich and powerful. Voter disenfranchisement and election administration changes based on lies cannot be allowed to threaten our democracy any longer. Without voting access for all and thoughtful election reform, the promise of our democracy remains unfulfilled. We need a federal response.
Take just a moment now to tell Congress that everyone has the right to access to voting. The comprehensive Freedom to Vote Act (H.R. 11 / S. 2344) contains provisions that would improve election administration, election security, redistricting, and campaign finance rules, as well as establish a new Office of State Democracy Promotion. The legislation would protect voting rights by requiring automatic voter registration, increasing voting access for people with disabilities, and lowering wait times at the polls, and takes serious consideration to protect and strengthen voting rights for groups presently disenfranchised. Moreover, the Freedom to Vote Act: 1) tackles partisan gerrymandering; 2) acts to reduce the influence of big money in politics; 3) addresses automatic and same-day registration, vote-by-mail, and early voting; and 4) establishes Election Day as a federal holiday, among other important provisions.
The American Humanist Association is committed to ensuring that every adult citizen has the right to participate in the governance of the society in which they reside through the choice of representatives, regardless of race, gender, sex, national origin, religion, disability, or political affiliation. Inclusive voting rights are fundamental to democracy—and every citizen disenfranchised is a step away from democracy. Without equal access to voting for all, our laws and systems of government remain inequitable and undemocratic. The Freedom to Vote Act will help protect the fabric of our democracy and ensure everyone has access to voting.