A voting sign with “Vote” translated in multiple languages, sits in the Milpitas Library in Milpitas, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local.
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A voting sign with “Vote” translated in multiple languages, sits in the Milpitas Library in Milpitas, Calif. on Nov. 8, 2022. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local.” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/indiacurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Voting-Center-Midterm-Elections.-Photo-Sree-Sripathy-for-India-CurrentsCatchLight-Local.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/indiacurrents.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Voting-Center-Midterm-Elections.-Photo-Sree-Sripathy-for-India-CurrentsCatchLight-Local.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ />
On July 30, civil rights attorneys and voting rights advocates spoke about the ongoing threats to ballot access as the nation approaches the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. In a virtual briefing hosted by the Voting Rights Working Group, legal experts highlighted the critical challenges facing voters of color and called for urgent federal and state action to protect democratic participation.
The panelists emphasized that the Voting Rights Act remains under coordinated attack, with multiple communities facing systemic barriers to voting. Todd A. Cox from the Legal Defense Fund warned that when one community’s rights are threatened, the entire democracy is at risk.
“What’s happening to the most vulnerable among us—whether in voting, policing, or housing—is a canary in the mine. When one community’s rights are threatened, the entire democracy is at risk,” he said. “That is why Congress must move with all urgency to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act into law. Our democracy cannot wait.”
Speakers like Jacqueline De León from the Native American Rights Fund highlighted specific obstacles, noting that Native Americans still face significant barriers, including long-distance travel to register and racial hostility in voting locations.
The experts strongly advocated for the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, arguing that it is crucial for modernizing voting protections and addressing contemporary challenges to electoral participation.
Key concerns raised during the briefing included ongoing voter suppression tactics, challenges to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the need for federal legislative protection for the voting rights of minority communities.
The full recording of the panel discussion can be viewed here.
This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool, and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.
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