VRAA Template Letter for Leagues

Note: Letters should be addressed from the president(s) of each League. Individuals who would like to send messages in support of the JLVRAA to their member of Congress should use the action alert here.

HR14/S4 John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act has been reintroduced in the 118th Congress! LWVUS is actively advocating in support of this critical piece of legislation, but we need your help to elevate your unique perspectives from your state and local levels of government.

Please use this template to write a letter to your members of Congress in support of the JLVRAA. As with all federal actions taken by state and local Leagues, communication is only permitted with the members of Congress who directly represent your jurisdiction. This means that state Leagues may send a letter to members of the Senate representing their state, and local Leagues may send a letter to their member of the House after coordinating with their state League leadership.

After your League sends this template letter, please send a copy to [email protected] for our records. Letters should be completed and sent before June 21st (the week before 2024 LWVUS Convention.)

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In this letter template, we recommend that you insert story-telling, specific evidence, or examples of the need for the JLVRAA in your community. After writing your portions of the letter in this template, please review for any language that may be considered partisan and update your letter to ensure that it is nonpartisan. Please avoid references to specific politicians or political parties if possible- especially if that language could be construed as support for or opposition to a candidate or party.

Questions or prompts to consider:

1. Was your jurisdiction subject to preclearance under VRA?
2. Were there laws implemented in your jurisdiction that might violate the VRA if it were still in place?
   1. Or are there any voting laws in your jurisdiction that might be struck down by federal review if your jurisdiction were still subject to preclearance?
3. What challenges do voters, especially voters of color, report with the voting laws in place in your jurisdiction?
   1. Have you observed or heard from voters that racially discriminatory voting laws have had a chilling effect on voter turnout? How?
4. How would the passage of the JLVRAA improve voting access for all voters in your community?

You may also consider consulting other resources about the VRAA in writing this section: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/john-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act

2024 National Convention Lobby Day

If your League is sending delegates or observers to Convention Lobby Day, this is a great opportunity to bring a copy of your letter with the unique stories from your district to deliver to your member of Congress in-person at Lobby Day! Letters should be sent by June 21st, the week before Convention, so that the Congressional staff with whom League members will meet have a chance to read the letter before the meeting on Lobby Day. Register for Lobby Day on the Convention website.