Stacey Abrams 'bullish' about passage of voting rights legislation like the John Lewis Act
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Voting rights is at the top of lawmakers’ minds for the 2022 midterms, where new redistricting maps will take effect across the country. Already, some of those maps have faced pushback because lawmakers seemingly can’t even be bothered to be subtle aboutStacey Abrams 'bullish' about passage of voting rights legislation like the John Lewis Act
Voting rights is at the top of lawmakers’ minds for the 2022 midterms, where new redistricting maps will take effect across the country. Already, some of those maps have faced pushback because lawmakers seemingly can’t even be bothered to be subtle about gerrymandering. And according to the Brennan Center for Justice, between the beginning of the year and Sept. 27th, “19 states enacted 33 laws that make it harder for Americans to vote.” More than 450 Congressional seats are up for grabs next November—34 in the Senate and all 435 House seats—making the midterms especially consequential. To Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, voter suppression is an issue akin to the insurrection and poses a direct threat to our democracy. “Warning lights are blinking red,” Griswold told Reuters. “We are seeing January 6, the attempted stealing of an American presidency, just in slow motion right now. What we're seeing right now is no longer about 2020. It's about 2022 and 2024... so I believe we are at an incredibly urgent time in terms of things that we have to do, that we must do.” Griswold called on Senate to pass legislation meant to counter voter suppression like the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, both of which have massive support from progressive groups, including Daily Kos. In a letter signed by more than 200 organizations, the Declaration for American Democracy urged lawmakers to immediately reconsider both bills and suspend a planned recess later this month if need be. “The most important step that Congress can take to protect the array of issues our organizations advocate for is to pass these vitally important voting rights bills in order to ensure that all Americans’ voices are heard in our democracy,” the coalition wrote. Read more