Priorities USA Reacts to Supreme Court Decision to Gut Voting Rights Act
Today, the Supreme Court issued yet another hostile ruling against the right to vote. This decision will create another avenue for states to enact aggressive voter suppression laws which disproportionately target Black, brown, and young voters.
Priorities USA will not be deterred by this decision. Last week, Priorities announced a $20 million initial investment in initiatives to protect and expand ballot access across the country. This will include the continuation of Priorities’ litigation effort which has already secured relief for voters in over 15 cases in states including Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Florida. The investment will also include digital advertisements to educate voters about new voting laws and mitigate the policies’ intended discriminatory effects.
Priorities will continue to build and grow strong partnerships with allied groups advocating for expanded access to the ballot. While the Supreme Court continues to allow states to suppress the vote and discriminate against voters of color, Priorities will work through the courts and through direct voter contact to protect voting rights and prioritize the marginalized communities who are disproportionately burdened by these policies.
“Today is a terrible day for our democracy,” said Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil. “Time and time again the Supreme Court has ignored reality and decided against American voters. We know that the fight to protect the right to vote is a long battle and we have come prepared. Priorities has been working for years to secure and expand ballot access and will continue to invest millions in voting rights efforts in the coming year.”
“This decision by the Supreme Court is exactly why Priorities USA created a dedicated initiative to protect the right to vote in 2015,” said Aneesa McMillan, Deputy Executive Director of Priorities USA. “Suppressing ballot access for Black, brown, and young voters has been a key tenet of the right-wing agenda for years and the Supreme Court has only helped to further these discriminatory efforts. Our program specifically centers the voices of marginalized communities that bear the burden of voter suppression and will continue to do so as a central piece of our latest initiative to protect the right to vote.”