Calling for the Prioritizing of Voting Rights Legislation by the President of the United States and the 119th Congress

WHEREAS, The struggles for voting rights in the United States has been marked by relentless efforts to secure these rights against systemic and targeted disenfranchisement, particularly for African Americans, whose fight against racially discriminatory practices such as literacy tests, poll taxes, and violent intimidation led to the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965; and 

WHEREAS, Despite the progress made through this critical legislation, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of efforts to erode voting rights through redistricting, restrictive voting laws, and the dismantling of key protections by the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby v. Holder, which significantly weakened federal oversight over changes to voting procedures in areas with histories of discrimination; and 

WHEREAS, The erosion of these protections disproportionately impacts the Black community and other minorities, reflecting a historical pattern of racial discrimination that seeks to dilute their political influence and marginalize their participation in the democratic process; and 

WHEREAS, The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act seeks to respond to these contemporary challenges by restoring and modernizing the provisions of the original Voting Rights Act, ensuring that all changes to voting laws that could discriminate against voters based on race or ethnicity receive adequate federal review; and 

WHEREAS, The Freedom to Vote Act proposes comprehensive measures to ensure the fundamental right to vote is accessible, secure, and free from undue burdens, thereby upholding the principle that the ability to vote should not be hindered by discriminatory practices; and 

WHEREAS, The NAACP in its 2021 resolution emphasized the critical need to protect and advance voting rights as fundamental to democracy, thereby underscoring the ongoing relevance and urgency of these issues. 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP calls upon the President of the United States and the 119th Congress to make the restoration and protection of voting rights the top legislative priority by advancing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP commits to mobilizing its members and resources to advocate for the passage of these critical voting rights measures, engaging in public education campaigns to raise awareness about the historical and ongoing challenges to voting rights, and collaborating with a coalition of civil rights and civic organizations to ensure robust support for these legislative priorities. 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP urges all members of Congress to act with urgency and resolve to pass these measures into law, thereby reaffirming the nation's commitment to democratic principles and the protection of voting rights for all Americans, especially those in historically marginalized communities.