Coordinated Campaign 2008 - Harris County Democratic Party

This week marked the 43rd Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, one of the most significant civil rights laws ever enacted.  Signed by President Lyndon Johnson on August 6, 1965, this landmark legislation ended techniques that had been used for decades to deny millions of minorities the right to vote.

At this time, we reflect with gratitude on those who lost their lives in the struggle for basic civil and voting rights in this country.  But despite 43 years of progress, inequities and obstacles remain for too many voters.

Unfortunately, Texas Republicans have actively worked to prevent certain people from voting and return us 
laws.  So this week, we also salute the Democrats who have stood up time and again to protect every Texan’s right to vote.

We thank our Democratic state legislators who worked so hard to defeat the Republican voter ID bill that would have made it harder for seniors, minorities and low-income people to vote.  Our own Senator Mario Gallegos even defied doctor’s orders to remain in Austin and block that bill.

And in Washington, Congressional Democrats fought for renewal of the Voting Rights Act in the face of staunch opposition from Texas Republicans, who wanted turn back time on the electoral process.

Our democracy depends on protecting the right of every citizen to vote in every election, but we still have a great distance to go in order to live up to our nation’s ideals of equality and opportunity.  Texas Democrats will continue working vigilantly to ensure every person has the right to participate in a free and fair election.