Democracy won’t stand up by itself. Our job is to tell legislators to do their job.

• Action #1: Contact your senators about the 4 essential bills necessary for democracy and to carve up the filibuster to do it.
• Action #2: Keep election administration in these states (AK, AZ, GA, IA, KY, MI, MO, NH, PA, SC, or WI) from being usurped – Friends and family plan.
• Action #3: Call on President Biden to support voting rights legislation

President Biden and Democrats in the Senate have the moral responsibility, and the power, to uphold the principles of democracy and protect our elections from sabotage. To let the GOP continue to use the filibuster – a “tool used overwhelmingly by racists,” to override the basic civil and voting rights of American citizens is equivalent to legislative malpractice. Our votes for them were a contract. Tell them you expect them to fulfill it.

Action #1: Contact your senators about the 4 essential bills necessary for democracy and to carve up the filibuster to do it.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to put their constituents first and push through these four bills to protect our democracy. The filibuster should be carved up or eliminated as necessary.

• The Freedom to Vote Act [Feinstein, Padilla both cosponsors]
• The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act  [Feinstein, Padilla both cosponsors]
• The Protecting Our Democracy Act [Feinstein is cosponsor, Padilla is not]
• The Washington, D.C. Admission Act [Feinstein, Padilla both cosponsors]

(Wapo) Sen. Padilla is one of 21 senators willing to eliminate the filibuster. Sen. Feinstein is listed as “open to change,” but is clearly reluctant.

Contact:

• Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
• and Senator Padilla: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
• Who is my senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com

Action #2: Keep election administration in these states (AK, AZ, GA, IA, KY, MI, MO, NH, PA, SC, or WI) from being usurped.

(From Voting Rights Lab) We Californians don’t have the kind of suppressive voter laws occurring now in states like AK, AZ, GA, IA, KY, MI, MO, NH, PA, SC, or WI, but many of us have friends and family who may be affected. Ask them to contact their state legislators. Their calls have power because they are constituents of legislators who want to be reelected. Staff manning the phones record and count calls ONLY from their own zip codes, so you can’t do it for them.

Contact: (look up here: tinyurl.com/my-legislator).

[We’ve created tinyurl links, in case the original text links don’t transfer when you share.]

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] because I’m concerned about pending legislation that interferes with local election administration (tinyurl.com/subversion-2021). I urge you to vote “NO!” on [BILL NUMBER – tinyurl.com/bill-spreadsheet] to keep [STATE]’s elections free of partisan tampering (tinyurl.com/election-sabotage).

If you live in any other state:  Donate to the Voting Rights Lab to fund their work to protect voting rights in all 50 states.

Action #3: Call on President Biden to support voting rights legislation

Source: League of Women Voters

Contact: President Biden, via the White House comment line or email contact form.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want President Biden to publicly support the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S. 4), even if changes to Senate rules are necessary. His public encouragement could get these crucial voting rights bills passed, protecting the freedom of all Americans to vote according to their consciences.

More information/actions on these bills

• The Freedom to Vote Act –  S.2747 – the Freedom to Vote Act would enact nationwide minimum standards to protect the rights of voters. This would reverse many of the anti-voter laws passed in states this year.  Latest I.V. action here. We’re askiing people to call every day.

• S.4 – The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act which would restore the ability of the Justice Department to review discriminatory changes to voting rules.  Latest I.V. action here. We’re askiing people to call every day.

• S.2921 – The Protecting Our Democracy Act – This act which would prevent future presidents from abusing their power for personal gain or obstructing the transition of power. The following Task Force proposals are reflected in the bill:
  • Codification of standards for communications between the White House and the Department of Justice
  • Transparency for controversial acts of clemency
  • Deterrence of self-pardons
  • Establishment of standards and procedures for enforcing the Emoluments Clauses
  • Closure of loopholes in the Federal Vacancies Reform Act to stop inappropriate appointments of acting officials
  • Protection for whistleblowers who report censorship of scientific research

• S.51 – The Washington, D.C. Admission Act – This act would grant the more than 700,000 residents of our nation’s capital a meaningful voice and a vote in Congress, and would also allow D.C. to control its National Guard, which can be called upon immediately to protect our Capitol and other critical sites.
  • DC’s lack of Statehood directly impacted the length and scope of the Jan 6th attack. On January 6th, the President prevented DC’s National Guard from assisting at the Capitol. It was DC’s local police force which re-established control of the Capitol, and members of DC’s local police force gave their lives to defend our democracy.
  • Statehood would also end more than 200 years of taxation without representation.Here’s a collection of our actions on this, with resources, videos and more.