Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to further weaken the Voting Rights Act. The case, Brnovich v. the Democratic National Committee, imposes a cramped standard for proving a violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act that threatens to undermine the Act's core purpose: to eliminate discriminatory voting practices of all kinds. That decision arrives as 48 states have introduced nearly 390 bills restricting access to the polls this year alone.
The For The People Act, which is supported by 83% of Americans nationwide and already passed the House, and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would combat these egregious voter suppression bills and enshrine the right of all Americans to vote into law. Just last week, Senate Republicans exploited the filibuster to delay the For The People Act. Without filibuster reform, voting rights for millions of Americans will remain unprotected
In response, the Sierra Club’s Democracy Program Director Courtney Hight released the following statement:
“Every person should have the right to clean air, to safe drinking water, and equal access to our democracy regardless of race, income, or zip code. But today’s Supreme Court decision significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act’s protection of equal access to our democracy, particularly for millions of Black and Brown Americans. The Voting Rights Act is as critical today as it was the day it was enacted, yet today’s decision further weakens an already weakened law. Voting is the bedrock of our democracy, and all eligible Americans must be guaranteed the freedom to exercise their right to vote.
“Enough is enough. The Senate must pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and do so without delay or barriers, especially those rooted in white supremacy, such as the filibuster. We know that our civil rights, our health, our jobs and our environment depend on the health of our democracy, and we will continue to fight until all Americans are able to freely vote.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.