Celebrate Vote Early Day AND Advocate

to Protect and Expand Voting Rights

We are celebrating Vote Early Day with our partners, and you can join the celebration now by checking your voter registration, and finding out where early voting is happening near you! While we celebrate this civic holiday, we are also reminded of the continued fight to ensure each person's vote may be equally counted and heard.

Right now, barriers exist for voters of color, veterans, voters with disabilities, rural voters, new Americans, and young people. When people’s votes are suppressed, or laws are passed to make it harder to vote, that in turn diminishes our democracy. The late Representative and voting rights advocate, John R. Lewis, once said, “the right to vote is precious, almost sacred.” As people of faith, we believe in honoring the sacred voice and vote of every person and that free and fair access to the vote is a moral issue.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was reintroduced by Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama on September 19. This important legislation provides the necessary tools to address discriminatory voting practices and restores crucial sections of the Voting Rights Act that were decimated by the Shelby County Supreme Court decision ten years ago.

We have work to do to ensure that our democracy is protected and strengthened so that all have equal access to the ballot box and so that each voice may be heard. Please urge your Members of Congress to fulfill their obligations to protect the freedom to vote by supporting and passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.