SB 1226, An Act Concerning State Voting Rights in Recognition of John R. Lewis

The importance of the right to vote cannot be overstated. Yet, the State of Connecticut long denied this fundamental right to its Black citizens and other citizens of color. From its founding through the recent past, Connecticut has a troubling history of racial discrimination in voting.

Connecticut have been denied equal electoral participation for well over two hundred years. The Connecticut Voting Rights Act has the potential to bring these failings to an end, forever. The provisions in SB 1226 will make voting fairer and more accessible to everyone in Connecticut. The price of inaction to protect the voting rights of Connecticut residents is high, and history offers myriad examples demonstrating its cost to the nation. Historical and current evidence shows that the right to vote remains in threat for many. Connecticut must be a leader in eradicating
discrimination at the ballot box,