As a lifelong Pennsylvania resident and executive director of Mothers of Incarcerated Sons, an organization dedicated in part to voting rights, I want to thank Salewa Ogunmefun for the powerful and timely piece, “60 years after the Voting Rights Act, voting rights under attack” (Aug. 14, TribLive).
This op-ed rightly honors the legacy of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and urgently calls attention to the serious threats that still face voters today, especially in communities of color. The gutting of key VRA protections by the Supreme Court, particularly the loss of preclearance, opened the door to policies that have again made it harder for many Americans to vote.
Here in Pennsylvania, we’ve seen firsthand the consequences of an outdated and burdensome voting system. From long lines to confusing vote-by-mail procedures, it’s clear that reform is needed. That’s why I strongly support HB 1396, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton’s Omnibus Election Code Bill. With commonsense changes like early in- person voting and secure drop boxes making voting accessible and easier for all Pennsylvanian voters, this legislation would help restore faith in our elections and bring much-needed access to voters across the commonwealth.
As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, we must live up to its founding ideals. Let’s follow the lead of other states that have taken local action to protect democracy. Pennsylvania has a chance to be a model once again by ensuring that every voice is heard, and every vote is cast freely and fairly.
Sharron Boddy-Adedipe
Hazelwood