Congressman Eric Sorensen joined his House Democratic colleagues to reintroduce H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bill would restore and modernize the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) and prevent states with a history of voter discrimination from erecting new barriers to the ballot box.

“Here in Illinois, we believe in fair elections where every eligible voter has a voice. For far too long, Black and Brown people have dealt with voter suppression. No one should be denied their voice at the ballot box because of where they live or what they look like,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “John Lewis taught us that sometimes we have to get into ‘good trouble’ to stand up for what’s right, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today. I will always fight to ensure all Americans can make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

On March 7, 1965, in Selma, Alabama, the late Congressman John Lewis and hundreds of Foot Soldiers were viciously attacked by police while peacefully demonstrating in support of the equal right of all Americans to vote. The brutality of Bloody Sunday galvanized the Civil Rights Movement and led to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA).

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and modernize the protections of the VRA. It would establish a modern-day framework to determine which states and localities have a recent history of voter discrimination and require those jurisdictions to pre-clear new voting laws with the Department of Justice.

The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is cosponsored by every House Democrat and supported by more than 140 organizations across the nation.