People For the American Way

Protect The Vote in 60 Seconds: People For Action of the Week

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Protect The Vote in 60 Seconds: People For Action of the Week

Welcome to People For’s Action of the Week, where we give you one thing you can do to protect our democracy each week. This week, we’re asking you to call your senators and ask them to protect the vote and pass voting rights legislation now! Keep reading to learn more about the threat to our voting rights, how to call your senators, what to say when you call, and how to take your action one step further.

The Issue: Across the Country, Our Voting Rights Are Under Attack

In 2021 alone, more than 400 bills have been introduced in 49 states with provisions that restrict voting access – and 18 states have already enacted laws that restrict access to the vote. This is the most aggressive wave of voting restrictions we’ve seen since Jim Crow – and we won’t stand for it. From the Texas Democrats who left the state to stop anti-voter legislation to airport takeovers in D.C., we’ve seen lawmakers, advocates, and people like you take powerful actions to oppose these attacks on our democracy.

Now, we need Congress to pass legislation that protects our right to vote. We need them to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Our vote is our voice, and the most powerful tool we have as citizens to effect change in our democracy. We need to act to protect it now. We can’t afford to wait.

The Action: Call Your Senators and Tell Them to Pass Voting Rights Legislation Now

This week, we’re asking you to take sixty seconds to call your senators and ask them to pass voting rights legislation now. Never called your senators before? Don’t worry! We’ll walk you through it. Here’s what you can expect when you call:

  1. Call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
  2. The automated switchboard will ask you if you’re looking for your House Members or Senators, and then for your state or zip code.
  3. Once you select Senate and enter your zip code, the switchboard will ask you which senator you want to talk to first.
  4. Then, you’ll be connected either to a member of the Senator’s staff or a message service. They may ask for your name and zip code, and why you’re calling. Tell them your name and zip code, and that you’re calling to urge the senator to pass legislation to protect our right to vote now. We’ve got a call script below, if you want to follow that!
  5. Once you’re done, say thank you and hang up! The call is over, and you’ve taken your action to protect our democracy!
  6. Want to take things a step further? Record a video of you calling your senator, and remix, stitch, or duet our Reel with your video! Don’t forget to tag us at @peoplefor_, and tag your senator!
    • Not on Instagram, or want to crosspost to Facebook or Twitter? Just tag us and your senator!

The Resources: Call Script and Senators’ Social Media Handles

Here’s a quick call script you can follow for calling your senators!

My name is                         , and I’m a constituent from                        (your city). I’m calling to ask the senator to pass legislation to protect our voting rights now. We need legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to make sure our votes are counted and our voices are heard. Please tell the senator that I’m counting on them to protect our vote and pass voting rights legislation now.

Want to tag your senators in a video afterwards? Find their social media handles below!

Senator’s Name State Party Twitter Handle Instagram Handle
Shelby, Richard C. Alabama Republican @SenShelby @senatorshelby
Tuberville, Tommy Alabama Republican @SenTuberville @sentuberville
Murkowski, Lisa Alaska Republican @lisamurkowski @senlisamurkowski
Sullivan, Dan Alaska Republican @SenDanSullivan @sen_dansullivan
Kelly, Mark Arizona Democratic @senmarkkelly @senmarkkelly
Sinema, Kyrsten Arizona Democratic @SenatorSinema @senatorsinema
Boozman, John Arkansas Republican @johnboozman @johnboozman
Cotton, Tom Arkansas Republican @sentomcotton @tomcottonar
Feinstein, Dianne California Democratic @senfeinstein @senatordiannefeinstein
Padilla, Alex California Democratic @senalexpadilla @alexpadilla4ca
Bennet, Michael F. Colorado Democratic @senatorbennet @senatorbennet
Hickenlooper, John W. Colorado Democratic @senatorhick @senatorhick
Blumenthal, Richard Connecticut Democratic @SenBlumenthal @SenBlumenthal
Murphy, Christopher Connecticut Democratic @chrismurphyct @chrismurphyct
Carper, Thomas R. Delaware Democratic @senatorcarper @senatorcarper
Coons, Christopher A. Delaware Democratic @ChrisCoons @senatorchriscoons
Rubio, Marco Florida Republican @marcorubio @marcorubiofla
Scott, Rick Florida Republican @SenRickScott @flsenrickscott
Ossoff, Jon Georgia Democratic @ossoff @jonossoff
Warnock, Raphael G. Georgia Democratic @SenatorWarnock @raphaelwarnock
Hirono, Mazie K. Hawaii Democratic @maziehirono @maziehirono
Schatz, Brian Hawaii Democratic @SenBrianSchatz @senbrianschatz
Crapo, Mike Idaho Republican @mikecrapo @mikecrapo
Risch, James E. Idaho Republican @SenatorRisch
Duckworth, Tammy Illinois Democratic @senduckworth @senduckworth
Durbin, Richard J. Illinois Democratic @SenatorDurbin @durbincampaign
Braun, Mike Indiana Republican @senatorbraun @senatorbraun
Young, Todd Indiana Republican @SenToddYoung @sentoddyoung
Ernst, Joni Iowa Republican @senjoniernst @senjoniernst
Grassley, Chuck Iowa Republican @ChuckGrassley @senatorchuckgrassley
Marshall, Roger Kansas Republican @rogermarshallmd @rogermarshallmd
Moran, Jerry Kansas Republican @jerrymoran @senjerrymoran
McConnell, Mitch Kentucky Republican @leadermcconnell @leadermcconnell
Paul, Rand Kentucky Republican @randpaul @senatorrandpaul
Cassidy, Bill Louisiana Republican @senbillcassidy @bill_cassidy
Kennedy, John Louisiana Republican @senjohnkennedy @senjohnkennedy
Collins, Susan M. Maine Republican @senatorcollins @sensusancollins
King, Angus S., Jr. Maine Independent @senangusking @anguskingmaine
Cardin, Benjamin L. Maryland Democratic @SenatorCardin @SenatorCardin
Van Hollen, Chris Maryland Democratic @ChrisVanHollen @chrisvanhollen
Markey, Edward J. Massachusetts Democratic @senmarkey @edmarkey
Warren, Elizabeth Massachusetts Democratic @SenWarren @senwarren
Peters, Gary C. Michigan Democratic @sengarypeters @sengarypeters
Stabenow, Debbie Michigan Democratic @SenStabenow @senatordebbiestabenow
Klobuchar, Amy Minnesota Democratic @amyklobuchar @amyklobuchar
Smith, Tina Minnesota Democratic @SenTinaSmith
Hyde-Smith, Cindy Mississippi Republican @senhydesmith @sencindyhydesmith
Wicker, Roger F. Mississippi Republican @SenatorWicker @senatorwicker
Blunt, Roy Missouri Republican @royblunt @royblunt
Hawley, Josh Missouri Republican @HawleyMO @senatorhawley
Daines, Steve Montana Republican @stevedaines @stevedaines
Tester, Jon Montana Democratic @SenatorTester @senatorjontester
Fischer, Deb Nebraska Republican @senatorfischer @senatorfischer
Sasse, Ben Nebraska Republican @SenSasse @senatorsasse
Cortez Masto, Catherine Nevada Democratic @sencortezmasto @sencortezmasto
Rosen, Jacky Nevada Democratic @SenJackyRosen @senjackyrosen
Hassan, Margaret Wood New Hampshire Democratic @senatorhassan @senatorhassan
Shaheen, Jeanne New Hampshire Democratic @SenatorShaheen @senatorshaheen
Booker, Cory A. New Jersey Democratic @SenBooker @corybooker
Menendez, Robert New Jersey Democratic @senatormenendez @senatormenendez
Heinrich, Martin New Mexico Democratic @martinheinrich @senatormartinheinrich
Luján, Ben Ray New Mexico Democratic @senatorlujan @benraylujan
Gillibrand, Kirsten E. New York Democratic @sengillibrand @kirstengillibrand
Schumer, Charles E. New York Democratic @SenSchumer @senschumer
Burr, Richard North Carolina Republican @senatorburr @senatorburr
Tillis, Thom North Carolina Republican @SenThomTillis @senthomtillis
Cramer, Kevin North Dakota Republican @senkevincramer @senatorkevincramer
Hoeven, John North Dakota Republican @senjohnhoeven @senjohnhoeven
Brown, Sherrod Ohio Democratic @sensherrodbrown @sensherrodbrown
Portman, Rob Ohio Republican @senrobportman @senrobportman
Inhofe, James M. Oklahoma Republican @jiminhofe @jiminhofe
Lankford, James Oklahoma Republican @senatorlankford @senatorlankford
Merkley, Jeff Oregon Democratic @senjeffmerkley @senjeffmerkley
Wyden, Ron Oregon Democratic @RonWyden @ronwyden
Casey, Robert P., Jr. Pennsylvania Democratic @senbobcasey @senbobcasey
Toomey, Patrick J. Pennsylvania Republican @SenToomey @senpattoomey
Reed, Jack Rhode Island Democratic @senjackreed
Whitehouse, Sheldon Rhode Island Democratic @SenWhitehouse @senwhitehouse
Graham, Lindsey South Carolina Republican @lindseygrahamsc @lindseygrahamsc
Scott, Tim South Carolina Republican @SenatorTimScott @senatortimscott
Rounds, Mike South Dakota Republican @SenatorRounds @senatorrounds
Thune, John South Dakota Republican @SenJohnThune @senjohnthune
Blackburn, Marsha Tennessee Republican @marshaBlackburn @marshaBlackburn
Hagerty, Bill Tennessee Republican @senatorhagergy @senatorhagerty
Cornyn, John Texas Republican @JohnCornyn @johncornyn
Cruz, Ted Texas Republican @tedcruz @sentedcruz
Lee, Mike Utah Republican @senmikelee @senmikelee
Romney, Mitt Utah Republican @SenatorRomney @senatorromney
Leahy, Patrick J. Vermont Democratic @senatorleahy @senatorleahy
Sanders, Bernard Vermont Independent @SenSanders @berniesanders
Kaine, Tim Virginia Democratic @timkaine @timkaine
Warner, Mark R. Virginia Democratic @MarkWarner @senatorwarner
Cantwell, Maria Washington Democratic @senatorcantwell @senatormariacantwell
Murray, Patty Washington Democratic @pattymurray @senpattymurray
Capito, Shelley Moore West Virginia Republican @sencapito @sencapito
Manchin, Joe, III West Virginia Democratic @sen_joemanchin @joemanchin
Baldwin, Tammy Wisconsin Democratic @SenatorBaldwin @SenatorBaldwin
Johnson, Ron Wisconsin Republican @senronjohnson @senronjohnson
Barrasso, John Wyoming Republican @senjohnbarrasso @senjohnbarrasso
Lummis, Cynthia M. Wyoming Republican @senlummis @sencynthialummis

 

Tags:

Action of the Week, For the People Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, voting rights