Sen. Gilmore, Rep. Lamar join more than 100 state lawmakers in Washington, D.C. calling for voting rights protections

Lawmakers from more than 20 states join Texas legislators to pressure Senate to pass the For the People Act before August recess

Sen. Brenda Gilmore (D-Nashville) and Rep. London Lamar (D-Memphis) are in Washington, D.C. to push for voter rights legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Sen. Brenda Gilmore and Rep. London Lamar are joining more than 100 state legislators from across the country in the nation’s capital to stand alongside 50 Texas state representatives who want action on protecting voter rights.

These state lawmakers are urging the U.S. Senate to do whatever it takes to immediately pass the For the People Act.

“In America, we value our freedom. And when it comes to setting the rules for our lives, we want the freedom to vote in a transparent process we trust so we can elect leaders who deliver for us from creating jobs to providing affordable care,” Sen. Gilmore said. “This is a turning point for our nation and we need national standards for us to safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities.”

While in Washington, state legislators will take part in a series of events and meetings with federal lawmakers to underscore the urgent need to pass legislation protecting the right to vote before the end of summer and undo anti-voter laws in time for the 2022 midterm elections.

Today, Sen. Gilmore and Rep. Lamar will attend the “Recess Can Wait — Our Democracy Can’t” rally featuring a lineup of elected officials calling on Congress to put the August recess on hold until the For the People Act is passed.

In 2021 alone, 18 states enacted 30 laws that make it harder for Americans to vote.

Tennessee mostly held the line on voting rights this session of the General Assembly, but the controlling party did reject legislation that would have expanded voting rights and further secured our elections. Bills to expand the list of acceptable voter IDs, require voter-verified paper trails on all new election machines and expand voting rights to citizens who served their time for non-violent felony all failed.