Washington, D.C. — This week, Marina Jenkins, Executive Director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), published an article on Substack reflecting on the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 and the importance of enacting further reforms to strengthen its protections against escalating attacks on the right to vote.

Read the full article here. Excerpts can be read below: 

“The extreme gerrymandering scheme underway right now in Texas is an urgent reminder that the struggle for equal representation and equal access to the ballot remains ongoing. The Lone Star State’s current congressional map is already one of the most egregious gerrymanders in the country, silencing the voices of millions of Black and Brown Texans by reducing the number of districts where they are able to elect a candidate of their choice.”

[…]

“Now, as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Texas Republicans — pressured by Donald Trump and GOP leaders in Washington — are preparing to gerrymander the state even more ahead of the 2026 midterms. Their plan is clear: redraw the congressional map to dilute the voting power of communities of color in order to try to pre-determine the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.

This isn’t just a Texas problem; it’s a national crisis. Gerrymandering has become a central strategy for Republicans trying to hold onto power, and it threatens the very foundations of our democracy.

The ongoing threat against the right to vote is not just emanating from Texas. In its next term, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider a number of cases that will impact the future of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which specifically prohibits the dilution of the voting power of protected communities, including communities of color.”

[…]

“The time for reflection is past. We are at a moment of reckoning. The decisions made today will shape the future of our democracy, and we cannot afford to miss this opportunity to act.

In the face of this unprecedented assault on voting rights, we must recommit ourselves to fully restoring and enhancing the Voting Rights Act. We need stronger protections for voters, including a federal ban on partisan gerrymandering and the creation of independent commissions to draw fair and representative maps. These reforms are not just necessary; they are essential to ensuring that every citizen has an equal voice in our democracy.”

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