A key part of our democracy is the ability to choose who represents us in government and what laws we’ll live under. Voting lets you make sure the people in power are the ones who share your values, and can stop policies like inhumane treatment of immigrants or hateful rhetoric from becoming the law of the land. While Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro fights for your rights in the courtroom, voting allows you to defend them in the legislature.
The most important step is registering to vote. It’s essential for citizens who want to participate in the political process and ensures their voices are heard, especially for those who face barriers to casting a ballot. The Civil Rights Division has a number of resources to help voters with disabilities or other challenges access the polls.
For decades, the right to vote was restricted in law and practice to property owners or nonwhites — particularly African Americans. The passage of the Voting Rights Act and subsequent reauthorizations have reduced the disparity in voting rights. But recent Supreme Court decisions have undermined these protections, including a 2013 decision that eliminated the need for jurisdictions with histories of discrimination to get federal approval before changing their voting rules — a process known as preclearance.
The Justice Department is fighting to restore the full force of the Voting Rights Act and add new protections targeted at today’s barriers to voting, including restrictive voter ID laws, gerrymandering, and discriminatory election practices. We’re also working to address the need for more accessible voting for people with disabilities, who are too young to vote, or who live in rural areas where they are often under-represented.