This is a turning point for our nation.
Recently, in Brnovich vs Democratic National Committee, the Supreme Court had the opportunity to protect our freedom to vote, but instead it allowed Arizona lawmakers to put up barriers to silence voters’ voices based on what they look like or where they live, while making it even more difficult to challenge discriminatory voting laws in the future. Compounded by the Court’s Shelby County ruling, this decision will likely further entrench Black, Latino, Asian American, Native American, and young voters. It is time to progress; not regress.
In America, we value our freedom regardless of our color, background, or zip code because that is the foundation of a democracy. Everyone deserves the freedom to vote in a transparent process, without limitations. As a result, it is imperative that Congress pass the For The People Act (S1).
The For the People Act guarantees everyone the freedom to vote, with no exceptions. It will bring down structural barriers designed to silence Black, Indigenous, young and new Americans. In other words, it equalizes the voting process and prevents billionaires from buying our elections, enabling everyday voters to have an equal say in the decisions that shape our future.
The power to foster this change is concentrated among us – the voters; only we have the ability to ensure Congress upholds the right to cast our vote and have it counted. History is evident of the inclusive impact our collective efforts can have in our democracy. In the past, we’ve defied the odds and beaten back attempts to suppress the vote. In 2020, with the pandemic in full swing, Swing Blue Alliance/Swing Left Greater Boston volunteers enabled Democratic voters to apply to vote-by-mail.
Nearly 1M vote-by-mail applications were sent to targeted Democratic voters. These undertakings delivered 2.6M+ Democratic votes by mail ballots in Florida. In addition to the efforts in Florida, our team worked tirelessly to register 1,400 people in person and sent more than 14,000 registration letters to Maine residents. In the end, their dedication added up to more than 4,700 hours of voter protection and voter registration to help rock the vote.
Similar to those fights, we must come together to pass the For the People Act. Our volunteers have already started the process and begun to urge moderate Democrat senators to make S1 a top priority. Due to these efforts, Swing Blue Alliance has mailed 117,600 postcards to Arizona, West Virginia, and New York. Plus, we have sent 58,000 postcards to New Hampshire and 55,000 postcards to Maine.
Now, this is an opportunity for volunteers like YOU to join us in the fight for voting rights. Together, we can help enact national standards to prevent future attacks on our freedoms so that we all have our voices heard to elect leaders who deliver on our priorities.
Volunteer with us, the Swing Blue Alliance, and maximize your impact. Become a postcard event host or join a phone bank to encourage voters in key swing states to their Senators in support of S1. Click on the link here to get involved.
Alina Shivji is a recent Loyola University Chicago graduate, with a BA in advertising and public relations, and a specialization in political science.