OPINION

Letter to the editor: Sens. Burr, Tillis should support Freedom to Vote Act

The Fayetteville Observer

I have lived in Fayetteville my entire life. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis need to vote to pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

With the 2021 redistricting cycle in full swing, more than 15 states have already completed one of their new state and federal district maps that will be in place for the next decade.

Many of these redistricting plans are clear examples of partisan gerrymandering — with maps being drawn to favor one party, without regard for the needs of communities. Worse, many of the communities split by the new district maps are made up of Black, Brown and other people of color who have historically been harmed by the redistricting process.

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However, the filibuster is preventing the Freedom to Vote Act’s final passage.

Sens. Richard Burr, left, and Thom Tillis

The filibuster is a loophole, historically used to block civil rights legislation. The original Senate rules did not include the filibuster rule, and the modern-day filibuster took root during the Jim Crow era, when racist southern senators used it to delay passage of important civil rights legislation.

Our senators went to Washington to get things done for us — their constituents — and these rules prevent change from happening.

It is time for our leaders to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and do everything possible to do so, including ending the filibuster.

The filibuster has stopped the beginning of debate from happening on the Freedom to Vote Act. Without the chance to debate, important issues such as this are stalled for partisan politics.

Congress must act now to implement national standards for federal elections. The Freedom to Vote Act would protect our right to vote, end partisan gerrymandering, counter undemocratic and dangerous election sabotage efforts and help to eliminate the undue influence of dark money in our elections.

-Bretton Little, Fayetteville

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