Gallego and Romero Urge the United States Senate to Pass Voting Rights Legislation

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, along with 144 of their civic counterparts across the country cosigned a letter from the United States Conference of Mayors asking the United States Senate to pass the two pieces of Voting Rights Legislation (The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act) that have been stymied by Republican filibuster efforts.

USCM-Letter-to-Senate-Urging-Vote-on-Voting-Rights010322.docx

In the letter, the 146 Mayors called for swift passage of both pieces of voting rights reforms, stating:

"American democracy is stronger when all eligible voters participate in elections. Yet voting rights are under historic attack and our very democracy is threatened. The Brennan Center reports that 19 states have passed 34 laws that make it harder to vote and that state and local election administrators face violent threats and intimidation for their public service.

These bills would stop this voter suppression. They would create national standards for voting access in federal elections that would neutralize many of the restrictive voting laws passed in the states. They would mandate early voting, no-excuse mail voting, an Election Day holiday, and protections for voters with disabilities to make voting as convenient as possible. They also would protect the free and fair administration of our elections by preventing the politicized removal of election officials, safeguard them from partisan intimidation and harassment during the election process, and set uniform rules for vote counting nationwide."

After the letter was sent to the Senate, Mayor Gallego posted on social media:

https://twitter.com/MayorGallego/status/1478077381248045056

Mayor Romero also issued a statement on social media, posting:

https://twitter.com/TucsonRomero/status/1478122430916743168

Mayor Gallego, Mayor Romero, and the other 144 local leaders that sent the letter urging action in the Senate are right.

The time to act has come.

It is time for all the Senators that caucus with the Democratic Party to create a carve out for the filibuster that expands voter access, safeguards the right to vote, protects the integrity of elections, and ensures every legal vote counts.

Otherwise, this country may not be able to call itself a Democratic Republic by this time next year.

Protect the American Ideal and pass these two vital pieces of voting rights legislation.