Protecting Voting Rights

Protecting voting rights is fundamental to ensuring that every American can participate in our democracy. In Louisiana, where the history of racial discrimination and anti-democratic tactics has long targeted Black voters, the need for robust voting rights protections is particularly urgent. This is why I strongly support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which aims to restore and strengthen the protections of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Louisiana’s unique racial history, marked by decades of voter suppression, makes the passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act essential. From literacy tests and poll taxes to gerrymandering and purges of voter rolls, Louisiana has been a battleground where Black citizens have fought tirelessly for their right to vote. Despite significant progress, recent efforts to suppress the vote—through restrictive voter ID laws, reduced polling locations, and limits on early voting—continue to threaten the democratic participation of communities of color.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act would reinstate federal oversight in states like Louisiana, where discriminatory practices persist. This legislation is crucial to preventing the rollback of voting rights and ensuring that every citizen, regardless of race, has equal access to the ballot box.

Louisiana’s long history of voter suppression is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality. The passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act would not only honor the legacy of civil rights leaders like John Lewis but also protect the future of our democracy by safeguarding the rights of all Louisianans to participate in free and fair elections.