Today, Rep Terri Sewell was joined by leaders of the House Democratic Caucus as she unveiled #RestoreTheV.O.T.E, or Restore the Voices of the Excluded, a national legislative effort to mobilize support for the Voting Rights Advancement Act which restores and advances the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
As part of the #RestoreTheVOTE legislative outreach strategy, every Tuesday that Congress is in session will be called "Restoration Tuesday." Members of Congress will wear a #RestoreTheVOTE ribbon pin, speak on the House floor about the importance of protecting voting rights, and share personal testimonials from constituents who have encountered modern day barriers to voting. Since nothing is more American than voting, the ribbon pin is red, white and blue striped and represents a visual symbol of our commitment to restore the vote! Interested organizations and stakeholders will also participate in "Restoration Tuesday" and help mobilize support for the passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, as well as participate on the social media.
"Today, I was proud to stand with my congressional colleagues to launch the #RestoreTheVOTE legislative strategy. This national effort will help mobilize support for the Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill that I sponsored with Reps. Judy Chu and Linda Sanchez to restore and expand federal oversight to jurisdictions which have a recent history of voter discrimination.
"As a daughter of Selma, I am painfully aware that the injustices suffered on the Edmund Pettus Bridge 50 years ago have not been fully vindicated. The recent decision by the State of Alabama to close 31 DMV offices in spite of the state's photo ID law is just one example of modern day barriers to voting that would have been precluded if federal preclearance provisions were still in effect.
"While we no longer have to count marbles in a jar or recite the names of all the counties, there are still laws and decisions that make it harder for people to vote. To restrict the ability of any American to vote is an assault on the rights of all Americans to equally participate in the electoral process.
"My hope is that by launching #RestoreTheVOTE we gain grassroots support for restoring the right of every American to vote. In order to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act we must get everyday Americans to care and demand congressional action to protect voting rights. We cannot silence ANY voices within our electorate. We must RESTORE THE V.O.T.E. -- the VOICES OF THE EXCLUDED!"