It’s hard to believe: voting rights are still under attack.In this past election, millions waited hours to vote and faced confusing voter ID laws that made it difficult to exercise their most fundamental right.

As shameful as that is, it could get worse. The Supreme Court is considering whether to strike a critical component of the Voting Rights Act – a landmark law that protects the right to vote for all.

In Shelby County v. Holder, the Court heard arguments challenging the constitutionality of requiring jurisdictions with a history of racially-based voting discrimination to “pre-clear” changes to their voting laws. Opponents are calling it unconstitutional because it only requires pre-clearance in areas with deep, historical discrimination patterns.

Quite simply, they’re wrong. We need to let the Supreme Court – and Congress – know that we want the Voting Rights Act protected.

We can only move this nation forward when we move it forward together, and we can only do that when every citizen is assured of the opportunity to participate in our democracy. That assurance is the right to vote.

The pre-clearance requirement has proved incredibly successful in preventing covered jurisdictions from attempting to pass discriminatory voting laws.

Judging by the long lines we saw at some polling locations, the extremely gerrymandered districts and the ongoing state legislative efforts to tilt elections by restricting access to the ballot box, the Voting Rights Act is still necessary.

The Supreme Court should uphold the Voting Rights Act in its entirety.

It is incumbent on us to help make that clear.

We must take a stand.

Best– Chris