Opinion: Voting rights can’t wait

2 years ago 294

A fewer weeks aft I was archetypal elected to the U.S. Congress successful November of 2018, I traveled to Washington for legislature orientation. Amidst the galore sheet presentations, argumentation discussions and introductions to my caller colleagues, determination was 1 acquisition that I volition simply ne'er hide — gathering civilian rights hero, and my aboriginal colleague, John Lewis, for the precise archetypal time.

I didn’t afloat admit however tense I was to conscionable him until we shook hands. I couldn’t judge it — present helium was, this incredible, courageous man, who had stood with Dr. King and virtually bled connected the Edmund Pettus Bridge to support the civilian rights of truthful many. As we greeted each other, I told him however honored I was to shingle his hand, and however grateful I was for each that helium had done to pave the mode for idiosyncratic similar maine to beryllium capable to service successful nationalist office. I was taken aback erstwhile helium said had heard of my predetermination arsenic Colorado’s archetypal Black Congressperson and offered words of contented for my woman and I. As she tin attest, I near the enactment some speechless and teary-eyed.

That evening, present much than 2 years ago, was the archetypal of galore occasions successful which Congressman Lewis expressed the aforesaid admonition that helium shared with truthful galore others crossed the state — that the conflict for justness and equality continues, and requires information from each of us. That the enactment to unafraid the close to vote, and to support the civilian rights of each American is not over. And that, arsenic helium erstwhile said, “the ballot is the astir almighty nonviolent instrumentality that we have.”

Of course, helium couldn’t person been much right. Voting is simply a ineffable right, foundational to our ideology and to our republic. It is simply a close that galore radical person died to unafraid and a close that civilian rights leaders similar Congressman Lewis were harassed, jailed and beaten to protect.

Unfortunately, it is simply a close that is erstwhile again nether attack.

We spot it successful the laws being passed successful Georgia, successful Florida, and successful Iowa. In authorities aft state, and successful the glaring lack of national standards and enforcement, partisan legislatures are making it harder for those legally eligible to ballot to bash so.

Now much than ever, it is captious that we enactment boldly and that we propulsion for change. We cannot basal by arsenic the close to ballot is stripped away.

That is wherefore it is truthful captious for Congress to walk H.R. 1, the For The People Act, and H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, some of which are important bills that volition unafraid the close to ballot for countless Americans. H.R. 1 would beforehand authorities transparency, fortify entree to the ballot box, unafraid predetermination infrastructure and curb the power of acheronian wealth successful our politics, portion H.R. 4 would reconstruct provisions of the Voting Rights Act (Sections 4 and 5) that were efficaciously invalidated by the 2013 lawsuit Shelby County vs. Holder. The second measure would besides supply the tools indispensable to combat the discriminatory practices we are seeing passim the federation and support each Americans’ close to vote.

The House has already passed H.R. 1, and volition nary uncertainty walk H.R. 4 successful the coming months. Both bills volition past await a ballot successful the U.S. Senate, an instauration that has go much dysfunctional by the day, progressively incapable of addressing the consequential challenges that we look owed to the obstinance and obstruction of a few. But the information remains that erstwhile it comes to securing our law rights, similar our cardinal close to vote, the U.S. Senate indispensable act. And if that means the assemblage indispensable follow a carve-out oregon exemption to the filibuster to bash so, past truthful beryllium it.  We tin telephone this objection the “John Lewis Rule,” successful grant of a antheral who gave truthful overmuch to unafraid voting rights for truthful many.

As Coloradans, we unrecorded successful a authorities wherever section and authorities policymakers person led the mode successful creating a modern, secure, and convenient strategy for casting our votes. Now we indispensable combat to guarantee the aforesaid rights, and the aforesaid protections for Americans crossed the nation.

As Congressman Lewis said, “Every procreation leaves down a legacy. What that bequest volition beryllium is determined by the radical of that generation.” Ours indispensable beryllium a bequest of progress, of courage, and of action.

Congressman Joe Neguse represents Boulder successful the United States Congress.

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