The right to vote protects all other rights

Voting is one of our most fundamental rights. It’s not just about having a say in the future of our country; it’s about honoring the legacy of those who fought and sacrificed so that we could have a voice. As a voting rights lawyer, I’ve seen the impacts of voter suppression firsthand and know how deeply un-American it is when folks cannot vote because of arbitrary barriers put in place to make it harder.

I became a voting rights attorney because I believe the right to vote is preservative of all other rights. That’s why we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. 

In Congress, I’ve been working to reinstate and modernize the Voting Rights Act to stop harmful voter suppression laws. To ensure more Americans can participate in our democracy, we must expand early voting, make Election Day a federal holiday, and take steps like same-day voter registration that make voting more accessible, not create barriers that harm it. 

I’ve introduced legislation to ensure integrity in our elections and to protect our election workers. I stand by the words of my hero, Congressman John Lewis, who said, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy.”

Despite these efforts, laws passed across the nation now make it harder for Americans to vote by mail, limit early voting hours, and have burdensome voter registration and voter ID provisions. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, championed by the Civil Rights Movement, was signed into law to expand the vote.

 Congress has reauthorized the Voting Rights Act multiple times since its passage. In 2006, reauthorization passed both chambers of Congress with wide bipartisan support—and passed unanimously in the Senate. More recent voter suppression laws are an assault on this legacy.

History has shown us that just a handful of votes can decide elections. We have less than a month to turn out our family and friends and ensure that every eligible American can cast their ballot. 

It’s time to decide to vote, especially at a moment when anti-democratic voting laws threaten the principles our country was founded on. I often say if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. 

Voting is our power and our voice. Let’s use it.

Colin Allred is an American politician, civil rights lawyer, and former professional football player serving as the U.S. representative from Texas’s 32nd congressional district since 2019. He is running for U.S. Senate against Ted Cruz in the 2024 elections.