Dear John,
Sixty years ago today, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law, marking a pivotal victory in the fight to expand access to the ballot for millions of Americans previously excluded.
Today, we know that the promise of the Voting Rights Act remains unfulfilled. Felony voting bans disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities, silencing millions of voices in our democracy. Over 4 million Americans were barred from voting in the most recent 2024 elections due to a felony conviction, many of whom have already completed their sentences.
And in states like Maine and Vermont, where incarcerated citizens do not lose their right to vote, barriers to the ballot persist due to opaque absentee voting processes and lack of information about candidates and key election deadlines. We know justice-impacted voters want their voices heard in the laws that govern our lives—and they deserve to exercise their rights like everyone else.
Felony voting bans are undemocratic and have no place in an inclusive democracy. To fulfill the legacy of the Voting Rights Act, Congress must ensure that every citizen, regardless of their criminal-legal involvement, has a voice in shaping our laws and our futures.
The Voting Rights Act was a promise—a promise that every voice matters. Sixty years later, that promise remains broken for millions. We have the power to change that.
Join us in the fight for an inclusive democracy. Tell Congress to guarantee voting rights and strengthen community safety by passing the Inclusive Democracy Act.