March 24, 2026
TRENTON – The New Jersey Assembly today, by a 53-20 vote , passed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, a New Jersey voting rights act, setting the stage for the Senate to take action next on this urgent pro-democracy bill.
“At its heart, the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act is about protecting New Jersey voters – protecting their voice, protecting their values and protecting their vision for the future,” said Nuzhat Chowdhury, Director of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “At a time when democracy is under relentless attack at the federal level, the moment is urgent. New Jersey must stand up and protect its own voters – especially Black, Brown and other voters of color who face disproportionate barriers to the ballot box. Today, the Assembly did just that, and now it’s up to the Senate to do the same without hesitation and move this bill to the Governor’s desk.”
With the federal Voting Rights Act on life support, this bill incorporates current federal voting rights protections into state law; helps prevent discriminatory voting changes in certain jurisdictions without “preclearance” from the state or a court to ensure lack of harm to voters of color; expands assistance at the polls and language access for voting and voter information; and prohibits voter discrimination and intimidation.
The John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act was introduced in 2022 as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act. In the three years since its introduction, the Senate has yet to hold a hearing on this critical legislation.
Eight states, including New York and Connecticut, have already passed state-level voting rights acts.
The Institute and partners are part of the 60-plus state and national organizations that make up the NJVRA NOW Coalition. For a full list of the NJVRA Now Coalition, click here.
Below are quotes from members of the NJVRA Now Coalition:
“Today’s passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey by the Assembly gets us closer toward increasing ballot access in the Garden State,” said Alejandra Sorto, ACLU-NJ Associate Director of Civic Engagement. “As the federal Voting Rights Act faces further erosion and voter suppression efforts rise across the country, New Jersey must be a leader in protecting and expanding our voting rights by passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey – the strength of our democracy depends on it. Thank you to Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, for her leadership in advocating for the passage of this bill. We urge the Senate to take swift action to advance this legislation and help make voting freer and fairer for everyone in New Jersey.”
“In the midst of modern Jim Crow tactics against voting rights nationwide, LDF applauds the New Jersey Assembly for prioritizing voter protections by passing the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act,” said Imani Brooks, Legal Defense Fund Policy Counsel. “All eyes are on the New Jersey Senate now. We have absolutely no time to waste when our most foundational right to fully and equally participate in our government is under constant attack. Opponents want to take us backwards in time, but New Jersey has the chance to continue its streak of pro-democracy laws and lead us into the future by ensuring Black voters, and all New Jersey voters, are fully protected from discrimination at the ballot box. We strongly urge the New Jersey Senate to take up this critical bill and pass it as swiftly as possible.”
“Today’s vote is a victory for every New Jerseyan who believes that power rests with the people,” said Allison McLeod, Interim Executive Director, New Jersey LCV. “We are seeing an alarming, coordinated effort in Washington to dismantle the foundations of our democracy, including the SAVE Act — a bill designed to create massive hurdles for eligible voters just trying to exercise their basic rights. We now call on the New Jersey Senate to act with urgency and move the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act to Governor Sherrill’s desk immediately. In the face of an unprecedented assault on our democracy, there is no time to waste.”
“As Asian Americans, our right to become citizens and vote in this country is only 74 years old–less than the average lifetime–and we hold it dearly, even as we have seen it come under attack across the nation,” said Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director of AAPI NJ. “We applaud the Assembly for advancing the NJVEA today, and look to the Senate to ensure that the best possible version of the bill reaches Governor Sherrill’s desk–one that includes expanded language access for AAPI and other communities, and voting rights enforcement within the Attorney General’s office, its proper home.”
“As a faith-rooted community, we believe dignity is not conditional, and it is upheld through equal access to the ballot,” said Charlene Walker Executive Director Faith in New Jersey. “At a time when the wicked seek to choke off the voices of voters and resurrect the sins of discrimination, New Jersey’s Assembly chose to stand on the side of freedom. This vote proclaims that our democracy belongs to the people, and no scheme to silence them will have the final word. We urge the Senate to move with urgency and send the strongest, most inclusive John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s desk so we can build the democracy our future demands.”
“We are deeply grateful to the Assembly for advancing the New Jersey Voting Rights Act,” said Jane Collins-Colding, Chair, New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition. “This is a critical step forward, but our work is far from over. We must continue to fight with urgency and determination for fairness, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that every voter in New Jersey is fully protected and every voice is heard. This fight is not only for our rights today, but for the rights of future generations. We call on everyone who believes in justice and democracy to stand with us, raise their voices, and join this fight because the strength of our democracy depends on all of us acting together.”
“The John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey is a critical step forward in protecting our democracy,” said Isabelle Muhlbauer, Advocate Manager for Voting Rights, LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “It strengthens safeguards against discrimination, expands language access and ensures that all eligible New Jersey voters can fully and fairly participate in our elections. LatinoJustice urges legislators to vote in favor of this critical bill to our democracy.”
“Our democracy is strongest when all voters can participate, and the NJVEA offers critical protection against discriminatory practices that undermine that right,” said Lata Nott, Director of Voting Rights Policy at Campaign Legal Center. “In recent decades, federal courts have steadily narrowed the scope of the federal Voting Rights Act. Enacting the NJVEA would help ensure that New Jersey’s government remains inclusive and responsive to the people it serves.”
“Our Jewish tradition is clear: ‘A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted,” said Sarah Blaine, Lead Organizer, New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “We applaud the New Jersey General Assembly for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey, which will plug holes that a decade of United States Supreme Court decisions have created in the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act. At RAC-NJ, we say that support for the bipartisan 1965 Voting Rights Act is in our DNA, as drafts of the original 1965 bill were marked up by advocates in our D.C. office’s historic conference room. Our community – and all communities – are safer when we have a strong democratic republic in which everyone – regardless of color, background or zip code – can make their voices heard by having their votes counted. We call on the Senate to swiftly move this bill to the Governor’s desk.”
“Today’s passage in the Assembly is a major step forward for Latino voters in New Jersey, who continue to face language barriers and obstacles that make voting less accessible,” said Latino Action Network’s Vice President of Public Policy Cory Garriga. “By expanding language access and creating stronger protections against discriminatory voting practices, this bill ensures Latino voters are not shut out of the process, we urge the Senate to pass it without delay.”
“The stakes are high and the need is clear. New Jersey must create safeguards that protect our state’s voters in the face of federal voter suppression attempts,” said Erik Cruz Morales, Director of Democracy at the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “We applaud the New Jersey Assembly for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey demonstrating their commitment to defending democracy. We call on the Senate to quickly do the same.”
“This is a critical victory for all New Jerseyans—especially Black communities who have long faced barriers to the ballot,” said Racquel Romans‑Henry, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Salvation and Social Justice. “At SandSJ, our commitment to democracy is rooted in protecting Black voices and ensuring our communities can fully participate in our democracy, particularly at a time when federal actions are openly threatening voter access for Black and marginalized communities. We thank the bill sponsors for their bold leadership in safeguarding this sacred right.”
As the fastest growing racial group with over a million Asian Americans calling New Jersey home, our voters deserve to have meaningful access to the democratic process,” said Leah Wong, Voting Rights Director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). “AALDEF urges the New Jersey Senate to join the Assembly in setting an example for other states across the nation by swiftly passing the NJVEA—an important bill that expands access to the 83% of Asians New Jerseyans who speak a language other than English at home. These protections against voter suppression are especially critical for Asian and other communities of color amidst the ongoing threats to our elections happening across the country.”
“Today marks an important step forward for democracy in New Jersey,” said Richard T. Smith, President, NAACP New Jersey State Conference. “The NAACP New Jersey State Conference applauds the Assembly for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey. This legislation honors the legacy of Congressman John Lewis by strengthening and safeguarding the fundamental right to vote for all residents of our state. At a time when voting rights are under attack across the nation, New Jersey has chosen to lead with courage and conviction. The NJVEA provides critical protections that help ensure every eligible voter—regardless of race, background, or zip code—has fair and equal access to the ballot. We are grateful to the legislative leaders and advocates who stood firm in defense of democracy. The NAACP New Jersey State Conference remains committed to working alongside our partners to protect the sacred right to vote and to ensure that the promise of our democracy is accessible to everyone.”
“As voting protections for communities of color across the country continue to be eroded and attacked, we applaud the Legislature for taking this historic step in guaranteeing these critical protections for New Jerseyans across the state,” said Madison Linton, Policy and Research Associate at the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “Our state is one of the most linguistically diverse in the nation, with over 155 languages spoken statewide and one in three households speaking a language other than English at home—the passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act is a key win in ensuring that the voices of New Jerseyans are heard, especially those of the 1.2 million residents in our state who are Limited-English Proficient.”
“Protecting our democracy means protecting the right to vote,” said Lisa Sanon-Jules of Indivisible Cranbury. “Indivisible Cranbury knows that New Jersey has a duty to ensure that voting is accessible and equitable for each one of our residents. To strengthen our democracy, we urge our leaders to act now and pass a fully funded NJVRA.”