It’s been a rough few months for voting rights. Across the country, state legislators have approved or proposed dozens of laws that make it more difficult to vote. In Washington, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has dealt an apparent death knell to the For the People Act, which would end gerrymandering, put limits on campaign spending, and ease voter registration.
But one of America’s leading voting rights activist is fighting back.
On Tuesday, according to CBS News, Stacey Abrams announced “a month-long campaign to help mobilize young voters of color around the For the People Act.” The effort – dubbed Hot Call Summer – is designed “to ensure that every single U.S. Senator is hearing from their constituents daily on the urgent need to pass [the For the People Act].” said Hillary Holley, the organizing director of Fair Fight Action, which is led by Abrams.
Despite Machin’s opposition – and the complete absence of support from any GOP Senator – Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised to bring the For the People Act to a vote by the end of June.
“We can’t wait any longer for Congress to protect Americans’ freedom to vote, which is why we need Senators to pass the For The People Act (HR1/S1),” Abrams said. “With voting rights under attack in 48 out of 50 state legislatures across the country, the moment has never been more urgent, and it will take all of us to ensure that Congress passes the voting rights protections our country and democracy desperately need.”
Abrams, a former Representative in the Georgia General Assembly, lost a contentious 2018 gubernatorial bid that was marred by accusations of voter suppression. Following her defeat, Abrams dedicated herself to registering people of color. Her efforts are widely credited with helping flip Georgia blue and delivering the White House to President Joe Biden.
CBS News provides more context on the GOP-led movement Abrams is continuing to fight:
Republicans, from the top of the party down to the grassroots, have rallied around the issue of “election integrity” in 2021, which has led the drive to change voting laws in many states. Former President Trump slammed the For The People Act during his speech at the North Carolina GOP state convention on Saturday night and praised GOP efforts to change state voting laws.