LET EVERYONE VOTE!!

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Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ:   “Voting is the heart of our democracy, yet Americans continue to face voter suppression efforts that make it harder to vote or intentionally keep voters from the ballot box. . . .Democracy doesn’t exist unless every eligible voter can vote and have their vote counted.” Senator Jeff Merkley, at the Democrats’ reintroduction of the Freedom to Vote Act, July 18, 2023


CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

No matter who you are or where you live, your vote should matter.

In the decade since SCOTUS’ Shelby County decision gutted the Voting Rights Act, however, GOP-controlled legislatures in 29 states passed 100+ laws making voting harder, especially for communities of color and low-income voters. At least 29 were enacted in states previously requiring prior DOJ approval. Before Shelby, the DOJ had blocked 3,000+ proposed voter suppression laws. 

Since 2020’s robust turnout of voters of color, the wave of restrictive laws intensified, under the guise of preventing non-existent “voter fraud,” aimed at ensuring GOP minority rule. 

The recently introduced American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act (HR.4563), the MAGA “Big Lie Bill,”would:

·      Nationalize harmful voting restrictions; 

·      Undercut impartial election administration;

·      Remove campaign finance safeguards;

·      Replace Washington, DC’s pro-voter laws with Georgia-type restrictions 

The Democrats’ answer—The Freedom to Vote Act—by contrast would:

·      Establish national voting standards, expand access, make Election Day a national holiday, tackle felony disenfranchisement;

·      Protect nonpartisan election officials;

·      Combat dark money;

·      End partisan gerrymandering.

It’s long past time for Congress to ensure that every eligible voter, regardless of background or circumstances, can participate in our democracy. Congress must pass the very popular Freedom to Vote Act now.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for co-sponsoring the Freedom to Vote Act, which guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections—safeguarding access to the ballot box, making participation in elections available to more Americans, protecting election workers from intimidation, ending partisan gerrymandering, and limiting the role of dark money. Now, it is time to lay out clearly for the American people how only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

*SEN. WYDEN:* Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for co-sponsoring the Freedom to Vote Act, which guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections—safeguarding access to the ballot box, making participation in elections available to more Americans, protecting election workers from intimidation, ending partisan gerrymandering, and limiting the role of dark money. Now, it is time to lay out clearly for the American people how only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

The House’s ACE Act (HR.4563) increases the role of money in politics and erects barriers to voting for millions of Americans, including many of your constituents, and it’s very unpopular with voters. If it, or another bill like it, is introduced in the Senate, you must reject it and vote, instead, for the Freedom to Vote Act which guarantees our voting rights and truly restores confidence in our elections.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Freedom to Vote Act, recently reintroduced in the House, guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections, unlike the ACE Act (HR.4563), a nasty MAGA voter intimidation bill, now on the House floor. Please do everything in your power to prevent its passage, making clear that only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The ACE Act increases the role of money in politics and erects barriers to voting for millions of Americans, including many of your constituents, and it’s very unpopular with voters. You must reject this bill and vote, instead, for the Freedom to Vote Act which guarantees our voting rights and truly restores confidence in our elections.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Freedom to Vote Act, recently reintroduced in the House, guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections, unlike the ACE Act (HR.4563), a nasty MAGA voter intimidation bill, now on the House floor. Please do everything in your power to prevent its passage, making clear that only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Freedom to Vote Act, recently reintroduced in the House, guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections, unlike the ACE Act (HR.4563), a nasty MAGA voter intimidation bill, now on the House floor. Please do everything in your power to prevent its passage, making clear that only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The ACE Act increases the role of money in politics and erects barriers to voting for millions of Americans, including many of your constituents, and it’s very unpopular with voters. You must reject this bill and vote, instead, for the Freedom to Vote Act which guarantees our voting rights and truly restores confidence in our elections.

Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

The Freedom to Vote Act, recently reintroduced in the House, guarantees our voting rights and restores confidence in our elections, unlike the ACE Act (HR.4563), a nasty MAGA voter intimidation bill, now on the House floor. Please do everything in your power to prevent its passage, making clear that only Democrats will protect our freedom to vote, which is the foundation of American democracy.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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