Asian Americans Advancing Justice Applauds Introduction of John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate and Urges Congress to Act

Groups vow to work with Congress to strengthen the bill and pass the legislation to protect the right to vote.
For Immediate Release
Contact
Michelle Boykins (202) 296-2300, ext. 0144 mboykins@advancingjustice-aajc.org

WASHINGTON, DC — October 5, 2021 ― The Senate introduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act this afternoon following the U.S. House of Representatives passage of H.R. 4 (John Lewis VRAA) over a month ago. Civil rights organizations in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation applaud the introduction and look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen the bill and pass the legislation to protect the right to vote.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five independent civil rights organizations, issues the following statement: 

“We welcome the introduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate. The Voting Rights Act has a long history of support across the political spectrum, and we will continue to work with the Senate to refine this legislation and secure every eligible person’s right to vote.

Asian American communities throughout the U.S. continue to encounter voting discrimination, including inequitable access to language assistance and state legislative efforts like SB 202 in GA, which make it harder for communities of color to vote. The Voting Rights Advancement Act will restore and modernize essential voting protections, such as practice-based pre-clearance, that have been missing since the Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision that opened the floodgates to discriminatory voting laws. We urge Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and protect the right to vote for all.”