Bill passes the House clearing the way for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

As part of a bill passed by House Representatives on Tuesday (Aug. 24), the federal government gained more power with the aim of protecting voting rights. Known in the House as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in honor of the late Georgia congressman, the bill passed along party lines. 

In response to a tweet about the bill on Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell wrote: “John always knew that the fight for justice never truly ends.” Every generation has to fight and fight again to preserve and advance the progress made in the past. It’s our turn now.” 

CNN says the legislation seeks to restore a part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that was overturned by two earlier Supreme Court rulings. In the event that the Justice Department’s bill is passed, it will once again have the power to prohibit certain states with a history of voter discrimination from changing their election laws. 

A vote will now be held in the Senate, where the legislation faces stiff opposition from conservative members. Several Republican lawmakers oppose the legislation, claiming it gives the government too much power over states’ elections. So far, only Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has supported the bill. 

Earlier this summer, Mitch McConnell made the claim that the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act wasn’t necessary because voting discrimination on the basis of race is already against the law. According to McConnell, the bill would give the Justice Department almost total control over the voting systems of every state in the nation. 

As part of its campaign to challenge the state’s new voting law, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit in June against the Georgia Secretary of State and Georgia State Election Board. It alleged in its filing that legislators knew the law would have a cumulative and discriminatory effect particularly on Black voters — and they committed the crime despite this knowledge.