Grace McRae, grace.mcrae@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senate Republicans filibustered a procedural vote on critical voting rights legislation for the third time this year. The Freedom To Vote Act, which is an updated version of the wildly popular For The People Act, is regarded as the most significant anti-corruption and voting rights bill in generations. It includes comprehensive, common sense democracy reforms including automatic voter registration, restored voting rights for 3.9 million formerly incarcerated people, a ban on partisan gerrymandering, making voter intimidation a felony, and more.
To date, 49 states have introduced nearly 425 bills restricting access to the polls, and the Freedom to Vote Act would halt many of these voter suppression bills. This bill also has implications for the Build Back Better agenda. Protecting the freedom to vote would help ensure that every voice is heard, so we have strong elected officials in place nationwide to effectively implement Build Back Better, and so that its benefits are equitably felt by every community around the country.
In response, Courtney Hight, the Sierra Club Democracy Program Director, issued the following statement:
“It is wholly outrageous that Senate Republicans are yet again using the outdated filibuster, a racist remnant of the Jim Crow era, as a loophole to block action to protect our democracy and our voting rights. Enough is enough. Every person in this country -- no matter their skin color, their zip code, or their political affiliation -- has the right to drink clean water, to breathe clean air, and to be free to exercise their democratic rights to make their voice heard. No amount of corruption, lies, or dark money can stop our power or our movement. It is time to make Washington accountable to the people, not to corporations and the rich and powerful, so we can build healthy and safe communities and a livable planet together.
“We simply cannot allow another election to go by without fixing holes in our democracy. The Sierra Club joins with our allies to call on the Senate to protect our democracy and freedom to vote by reforming or eliminating the filibuster and passing the Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act without delay.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.