Our vote is one of our most powerful tools for change, and right now, our voting rights are under attack.
State legislatures are targeting voting rights in an effort to silence young people and people of color. And major legislation to expand voting access at the federal level is being blocked by racist and outdated processes like the filibuster, while Democrats are not taking this threat to our democracy seriously. In this country, no matter our background or zip code, we value our freedom – including our freedom to vote. Our elected leaders must ensure we can safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities. When our people cannot vote, our voices are silenced and we cannot elect representatives who reflect our values. Our vote is our power.
Youth-led organizations in the Alliance Network are fighting back to defend our democracy, but we need everyone in this fight.
1 Tell the Senate to end the filibuster
The filibuster is a ‘Jim Crow relic’ that congress members are weaponizing to keep our democracy rigged. Senate Republicans have already used it to block critical legislation and have promised to use it to prevent landmark voting legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from passing. In order to pass the legislation to protect democracy, we must get rid of the filibuster.
2 Tell the Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act
The combined Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act incorporates most of the critical provisions from the For the People Act including landmark voting rights, and anti-corruption legislation that passed the House in March 2021. It also includes some much-needed safeguards against attempts to undermine the electoral process. We are in a critical time for defending our democracy. Call your Senators and tell them to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act today.
3 Donate to local youth-led organizations fighting for voting rights
Youth-led organizations like MOVE Texas, Loud Light, Forward Montana, and more are fighting to protect the right to vote and expand voting access. Donate and support these organizations in the network so we can continue to protect our democracy.
Youth organizers have been putting in the work to welcome people into our democracy and ensure their freedom to vote despite years of legislation making it harder to vote. Now, we need the President and Congress to be as bold as organizers on the ground because there is too much at stake. It is time to end the filibuster so legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act can pass. The future of our democracy hangs in the balance.
Here’s the Latest and How We’re Taking Action
When the Senate began debate on vital voting rights legislation – the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act – we released this statement from our Executive Director, Dakota Hall.
“Young voters are watching every senator who fails to rise up and deliver on voting rights. Their legacies and our legacy as a country are on the line. The Senate must eliminate the filibuster, and pass laws that protect our lives, our rights, and our freedoms.”
In early February, Alliance for Youth Action and 52 organizations signed a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 230 national organizations committed to promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States, urging Congress to keep focused on the fight against racial discrimination in voting rights.