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With Democratic Texas legislators holed up in Illinois to block Gov. Greg Abbott’s redistricting map, which would disenfranchise voters, the Voting Rights Act quietly marked its 60th anniversary. There was no celebration for the milestone, only a somber reflection on the Act’s uncertain future.
Texas’s efforts to redraw its congressional map have raised serious concerns among legal experts, civil rights groups, and federal courts about potential violations of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), especially Section 2, which prohibits discrimination in voting practices.
When President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act (VRA) into law on August 6, 1965, he called it “a triumph for freedom as huge as any victory that has ever been won on any battlefield.” It marked a defining moment in the nation’s long, difficult journey to fulfill the promise of democracy. Free and fair elections and the right of every citizen to vote have always been cornerstones of our democracy. This has set our country apart from much of the world.
But the victory Johnson mentioned has not lasted. Over the years, efforts to weaken the Act have eroded its protections. The GOP has repeatedly attacked the law, using partisan tactics to dismantle its core provisions. When Donald Trump took office, he looked for new ways to make it harder for Americans—particularly those unlikely to support him—to vote. Today, even the legitimacy of fair elections is under threat.
Since its first introduction in 2021, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act seeks to modernize and strengthen the VRA with essential tools to fight discriminatory voting policies. However, it remains stalled in Congress.
The failure to pass both the John Lewis Act and its companion bill, the Freedom to Vote Act, has left our democracy more vulnerable than ever. With voter suppression efforts increasing and trust in our institutions eroding, we can no longer afford to wait.
Eventually, the Texas legislators will return to the Capitol in Austin to resume their work. Whether their bold stand will stop the redistricting remains to be seen. Their actions, however, have cast a national spotlight on the importance of the VRA — and that matters.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Call Congress and urge your representatives and senators to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The future of our democracy depends on it.
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