Right to vote fundamental, make it accessible to all
Nothing has impacted my view of the world more than my experiences as an Albany public school student. I not only learned academic skills such as reading and math, but also the importance of justice and the prevalence of inequality. My friends from a range of backgrounds taught me the importance of being heard.
Depending on ZIP code, some of us ate at restaurants every week while others struggled to get food on the table. Some of us had access to quality health care while others lacked basic medical attention.
While my parents brought me to the voting booth, restrictions on the times and days people could vote meant some of my friends' parents could not take time off work to cast ballots and have their voices heard.
I learned that voting, like reading, is fundamental and should be accessible to all.
The right to vote is a moral issue. The Senate must pass the
For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to prohibit discriminatory state laws that restrict voting access. These laws most often harm communities of color, new Americans, people with disabilities, older Americans and lower-income Americans — people like my Albany classmates.
Recently, at a virtual meeting with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, more than 675 Reform Jews spoke with our moral voices about our Jewish values and obligations, including the rule that everyone should have a say
in determining how their community is governed. All Americans should be able to vote for leaders who they think will fight to address their needs. It is unfathomable that from January through July 14, 18 states enacted 30 laws that restrict access to voting. With more than 400 bills in 49 states introduced since the 2020 elections, this could be the tip of the iceberg. Restrictions like ID requirements, the removal of drop boxes, and shortened voting periods are inherently biased and must be prohibited.
The right to vote should not be impacted by race, ethnicity, gender identity, ZIP code, or political affiliation. New Yorkers know how important the freedom to vote is here and throughout our country. Our U.S. senators must ensure passage of the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act because voting is fundamental and should be accessible to all.