Groups sending letter to Schumer urging passage of voting acts

Urgency stems from upcoming midterm elections

The Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Alliance are to send a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer to urge the New York Democrat to swiftly find a path forward for the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The groups argue that strong voting rights are good for business.

The letter, expected to be sent Wednesday, comes the week after New York voters rejected three election-related ballot questions at nearly identical rates. The ballot measures included redistricting tweaks, opening a pathway for same-day voter registration and noexcuse voting by mail.

The measures were firmly opposed by the state Republican and Conservatives parties, which spent considerably to defeat the measures while the state Democratic Party spent no money to support the ballot questions.

Instead, the probusiness groups are doubling down on their effort to push for Congress to pass certain federal voting rights.

“By limiting the influence of big money in politics, through increased disclosure and an option for smalldollar matching, the Freedom to Vote Act will also amplify the voices of small and Black-owned business owners and ensure that our needs are heard and addressed in the political process,” the letter reads.

They want to make sure the voting rights act is passed prior to the 2022 midterm elections. The midterms, if they play out as they did for President Barack Obama in 2010, could flip Congress and lead to the stonewalling of Democratic initiatives of President Joe Biden.

“Our plea is especially urgent with states being so close to redrawing political district maps for partisan advantage — undemocratic advantages that will be locked in for a decade,” the letter reads. “We implore you to act fast.”

The Republican Party in Congress, like in New York state, has generally opposed voting rights changes.