On 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, CAPAC Members Renew Fight to Restore Landmark Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today marks the 59th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). This law protects the right to vote by prohibiting racial discrimination at the ballot box.
Legal assaults on the VRA are ongoing and include the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder and 2021 decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, as well as federal appeals court rulings by the Eighth Circuit and Fifth Circuit this year.
CAPAC Members released the following statements:
CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28):
“Today we celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and highlight our ongoing fight to return this landmark legislation to its full strength. For nearly a century following the abrupt ending of the Reconstruction, Black Americans and other Americans of color were blocked from the ballot box across the country. Courageous activists, including the late John Lewis, never backed down from the fight to secure the essential democratic right to vote for everyone—even as they faced prejudice, hate, and brutal violence. Their success in securing the VRA’s passage meant that Black Americans and Americans of color could finally begin to fully participate in the political process, elect representatives of their choice, and have their voices heard on policies impacting them.
“Today we are called to renew this fight for justice. Ongoing attacks on the ballot box have been unrelenting since the 2013 Shelby County decision gutted key provisions of this law and opened the doors for states to enact new obstacles to make voting inaccessible and lower courts to make decisions like the recent Fifth Circuit one hurting communities of color in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. These unjust measures to curtail voting access disproportionately impact communities of color, including AANHPIs, and hurt our communities’ ability to improve our schools, rebuild our roads, and address our health disparities. It is imperative that we in Congress continue to do everything we can to restore the Voting Rights Act through passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and, once again, protect our fundamental rights and freedoms.”
CAPAC First Vice Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06):
“Today marks the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This landmark legislation empowered millions of African American voters and safeguarded the right to vote. As we commemorate this historic day, we must recognize that voting rights remain under attack. The Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted many key protections in this law, paving the way for states and communities to erect more and more barriers to the ballot box. We must remain committed to the fight against restrictive voting laws and pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure that all Americans have an equal opportunity to exercise their sacred right to vote in every election. It is imperative that my colleagues and I do everything we can to preserve this cornerstone of our democracy.”
CAPAC Second Vice-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39):
“Today marks the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the landmark law that safeguards the voting rights of all Americans, regardless of race. As we observe this milestone, we are reminded of the fragile state of voting rights in our nation and the troubling uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court. We cannot rely on the Supreme Court to decide who can and cannot access the ballot box. Congress must step up and pass legislation to strengthen voting rights for all Americans.”
CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36):
“Today we mark the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a monumental step in our nation’s fight for equality and the right to vote for all Americans. Now, nearly six decades since its enactment, the Voting Rights Act is under attack from conservative extremists at all levels of government across the country. Following the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court decision in 2013, we have witnessed a devastating rollback of voting rights. In 2024 alone, legislators in 40 states have considered at least 291 bills to restrict voting access—all of which would disproportionately impact communities of color and disenfranchise historically marginalized groups. With the upcoming presidential election, it is more important now than ever to safeguard our right to the ballot box. As Americans we have a responsibility to uphold this cornerstone of democracy and ensure every voice is heard.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL):
“59 years ago today, the historic Voting Rights Act enshrined the freedom of every American to make their voice heard in our democracy—but today, that freedom is under attack in red states across the country. It's past time for Congress to finally pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, restoring the freedom to vote and making it easier to participate in our democracy—not harder.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17):
“Today marks the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Amidst renewed attacks on the right to vote across the country, protecting this landmark piece of legislation is more important than ever. I stand with my CAPAC colleagues in condemning attacks on our democracy and the right to vote.”
Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03):
“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy. For the last 59 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected that fundamental right, but that right is currently under attack. In 2013, the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted important provisions of the law. That decision has paved the way for a wave of voter suppression laws throughout the country in response to the Big Lie and misinformation about the 2020 election. Just last month, House Republicans passed the SAVE Act which is legislation designed to suppress the votes of millions of Americans by requiring excessive often unavailable documentation before a person can register to vote. Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full power of the Voting Rights Act in order to protect access to the ballot box for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live.”
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07):
“59 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, ensuring the protection of Americans’ sacred right to vote and addressing a long history of disenfranchisement and discrimination at the polls. It has been more than a decade since the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder, a significant setback in ensuring protection of voting rights, and we have seen that the VRA and its reauthorization are essential to protecting the rights of voters and combatting efforts to disenfranchise voters, including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. The right to vote is foundational to our democratic system and our success as a democratic society depends on protecting it, which is why it is critical that we restore the Voting Rights Act now.”
Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38):
“Today we celebrate 59 years since the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. This important legislation protected the right to vote for all Americans, including members of the AANHPI community. Sadly, across the country we are still seeing attacks on voting rights and attempts to disenfranchise voters. I promise to work with my CAPAC colleagues in ensuring we continue to protect and strengthen voting rights for everyone.”