Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Statement on the 56^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. released the following statement today regarding the 56^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  The Act outlawed voting discrimination practices that had been adopted in many southern states as a response to the 15^th Amendment, which gave all Americans the right to vote regardless of race or color.  The practices included poll taxes, literacy tests, and other restrictions to make it difficult for African Americans to vote or deny them the right to vote.

“It is important to commemorate the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 because today we are seeing increased actions in state legislatures nationwide to deny African Americans the right to vote,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “In the past, it was poll taxes.  Today, it is the elimination of voting boxes and locations in minority neighborhoods, rejection of vote-by-mail, and even denying voters water while they wait in long lines to vote.  We must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act (H.R. 4) immediately to restore and protect the right to vote for all Americans, regardless of race or political affiliation.  Every vote counts!”