January 20, 2022

Voto Latino: Republicans’ Obstruction of Voting “Deeply Disturbing”

For Immediate Release:

January 19, 2022

Media Contact:

Drew Courtney, West End Strategy Team

Voto Latino: Republicans’ Obstruction of Voting “Deeply Disturbing”

Washington – Today, Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, legislation designed to prevent and counteract attacks on the right to vote being enacted by Republican state legislatures around the country. Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar issued the following statement in response to Republicans’ obstruction:

“Today’s move by Republicans isn’t surprising, but it’s still deeply disturbing to see how completely the party of Lincoln has turned against the fundamental right to vote for each eligible American regardless of color or creed. Instead of competing for the support of an increasingly diverse American electorate, Republicans are attempting to hold onto power by exploiting procedural loopholes to undermine our most essential rights. Don’t listen to their excuses or pretension to care about procedure. Today, every Republican in the Senate chamber–along with Senators Manchin and Sinema–stood in opposition to the kind of voting rights protections that generations of Americans have fought and died for. Protections that until 2013, when Chief Robert’s court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, safeguarded the vote of BIPOC Americans, are simply not available.

“This battle is not over. We’ll continue to fight until every American–including the up to 20 million Latinos potentially disenfranchised by legislation enacted just last year–has the right to cast a vote and have it count. I remain hopeful that we will be able to enact legislation to preserve our democracy and restore faith in the electoral system–with or without Republican support.”

If you are interested in speaking with Maria Teresa about Republican efforts to suppress the vote and the voting rights legislation Congress considered today, please contact [email protected].

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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latinx voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Through innovative digital campaigns, culturally relevant programs and authentic voices, we shepherd the Latinx community towards the full realization of its political power.