June 30, 2026
TRENTON – In a huge victory for democracy and voting rights, the New Jersey Senate today 25 – 14 passed the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, a New Jersey voting rights act, sending the bill to Gov. Sherill’s desk to be signed into law.
The Assembly, which passed a previous version of this bill in March, also adopted and passed the Senate version today in a process known as reconciliation.
“Passage of New Jersey’s own voting rights act is an incredible win for New Jersey voters and a historic milestone for our state’s democracy. Once Gov. Sherrill signs this legislation into law, New Jersey voters – their voices, their values and their vision for the future – will be protected by state law from voting rights discrimination,” said Nuzhat Chowdhury, Director of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. “Against the backdrop of relentless national attacks on democracy, New Jersey has stepped up and passed one of the strongest state voting rights acts in the country to defend and strengthen voting rights for everyone — particularly Black, Brown and other voters of color who have faced barriers to the ballot for generations. We are eager to celebrate this achievement once the Governor signs this bill into law.”
With the current federal Voting Rights Act decimated, this historic bill incorporates former federal voting rights protections into state law; helps prevent discriminatory voting changes in certain jurisdictions by requiring “preclearance” from the state 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. New Jersey now becomes the 10th state to join the growing movement of state voting rights acts.
The John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act was introduced in 2022 as the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Ten states, including New York and Connecticut, have already passed state-level voting rights acts.
The Institute leads 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 NJVRA Now Coalition Members:
“We are grateful that the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey is headed to Governor Sherrill’s desk to be signed into law,” said Alejandra Sorto, Associate Director of Civic Engagement at the ACLU of New Jersey. “This bill will remove barriers to voting that disproportionally harm voters of color across the state, increase language access and assistance, and prohibit deceptive practices at the polls – critical measures as federal protections continue to be eroded. New Jerseyans deserve a strong, inclusive, and representative democracy where every voice is heard, and this bill will create meaningful progress toward building that reality. Thank you to prime sponsors Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Senate President Scutari, and Senators Turner and Cryan for their leadership in championing this bill. We urge Governor Sherrill to swiftly sign the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act into law and help make voting freer and fairer for everyone in the Garden State.”
“The League of Women Voters of New Jersey applauds the Legislature for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act and taking a historic step to protect and strengthen the freedom to vote in our state,” said Erik Cruz Morales, Director of Democracy at the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. “This victory comes at a defining moment for our democracy. As federal voting rights protections continue to erode and attacks on the freedom to vote grow more aggressive across the country, states can no longer afford to stand on the sidelines. New Jersey is fighting back. We applaud the bill sponsors, legislative leadership, and the broad coalition of advocates and community members whose years of dedication made this landmark achievement possible. Democracy is not self-sustaining; it must be protected. Today, New Jersey showed the nation what that commitment looks like. We now urge Governor Sherrill to swiftly sign this landmark legislation into law and send a clear message that New Jersey will never waver in defending the freedom to vote.”
“For most of America’s 250 years, AAPI immigrants were barred from becoming citizens and voting. The rights we enjoy today have been built up over generations by diverse people who have spoken out, marched, and even died because they refused to accept anything less than equal opportunity to shape our democracy,” said Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director of AAPI New Jersey. “Thanks to the community members and multiracial coalition who have taken up this work in our own time, the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act is poised to enact critical protections for nearly 600,000 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in New Jersey, and make it easier for our communities to vote through expanded language access. We are grateful to the Legislature for sending this bill to Governor Sherrill’s desk with the urgency this moment requires, and look to her administration to lead the nation in upholding and defending the voting rights of all.”
“With the U.S. Supreme Court dismantling the federal Voting Rights Act and Donald Trump keeping up his relentless attacks on our democratic institutions, we cannot rely on Washington to safeguard our most fundamental right,” said Allison McLeod, Interim Director of New Jersey LCV. “This legislation is more important than ever. It draws a line in the sand against voter suppression and ensures that all New Jerseyans, regardless of their race, ZIP code or age, can make their voices heard without facing unnecessary barriers.”
“At a time when communities of color across the country are being disenfranchised, New Jersey has taken a stand to protect and empower voters,” said Madison Linton, State Policy and Advocacy Manager at New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice. “NJAIJ applauds the historic passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey. This is a clear commitment from our state that it will defend democracy and safeguard the voices of the most vulnerable populations.”
“The passage of the NJVEA marks a historic win in the fight against voter suppression,” said Antoinette Miles, Executive Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. “Working class voters of all races deserve an equal voice at the ballot box. We applaud state lawmakers for honoring the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis by strengthening voting rights and the tools for community voices to be heard.”
“Our collective faith traditions teach that every person has inherent worth and dignity, and the freedom to vote is one way we honor that dignity in public life,” said Charlene Walker, Executive Director of Faith in New Jersey. “Today’s victory reflects the faithful work of a broad coalition, committed legislative champions, and countless leaders, including many from Faith in New Jersey, who organized, testified, and refused to give up on a democracy that belongs to all of us. We celebrate this important step toward the Beloved Community and look forward to the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act becoming law so every New Jerseyan can help build the world we deserve.”
“The Palestinian American Community Center thanks the New Jersey Senate for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act and safeguarding fair access to our elections. In a state as diverse as New Jersey, our democracy is strongest when every community can participate freely and safely, and when our laws recognize, protect, and account for the experiences of those who have too often been excluded or targeted,” said Haliema A. Twam, Civic Engagement & Advocacy Manager, Palestinian American Community Center.
“There is never any time to waste when it comes to protecting Black voters from the discrimination they have suffered for years in the voting process,” said Demetria McCain, Director of Policy at the Legal Defense Fund. “We are thrilled the NJVEA has finally found its way through the New Jersey Legislature after years of advocacy. And we applaud the staunch sponsors and allies in the General Assembly and Senate for their work in getting this bill over the finish line. Governor Sherrill must sign, enact, and fund the NJVEA immediately so Black voters and other voters of color in New Jersey can have strong voter protections at the state level.”
“We are grateful that passage of the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act means important voter protections are heading to the governor’s desk and will be in place for 2026 elections and beyond,” said Lata Nott, Director of Voting Rights Policy at Campaign Legal Center. “However, there is more work to be done to ensure New Jersey voters benefit from the strongest possible protections, like those passed by the Assembly. Campaign Legal Center remains committed to efforts to protect voters and will continue fighting to ensure that all New Jerseyans have an equal opportunity to participate in our democracy.”
“It has been less than seven years since New Jerseyans with felony convictions regained their right to vote while on probation or parole, and eligible incarcerated voters in New Jersey still face formidable barriers to casting their ballots,” said Paul Stanley Holdorf, Supervising Attorney of the Prisoners Legal Advocacy Network. “People impacted by the criminal legal system are at heightened risk of disenfranchisement in the wake of eroding federal voting protections. We commend the New Jersey Legislature for enshrining safeguards in a state voting rights act that will achieve so much more than protecting the franchise. When Governor Sherrill signs this legislation into law, it will affirm the dignity and uplift the voices of directly impacted New Jersey voters in a resounding victory that embodies what true democracy is supposed to be – a body politic that champions us all.”
“The New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NJ) applauds the Senate for passing the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey,” said Rabbi Philip Bazeley, Co-Chair, New Jersey Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC-NJ). “At a time when federal voting protections have been significantly weakened, New Jersey has the opportunity to reaffirm a fundamental democratic principle: every eligible voter deserves an equal opportunity to make their voice heard. The Religious Action Center’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., played a role in the development of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as civil rights leaders gathered there to help shape that landmark legislation. Today, we are proud to continue that legacy by advocating for strong state-level protections that ensure every New Jerseyan has fair and equitable access to the ballot. We thank the members of the Senate for passing this important legislation forward and urge Gov. Sherrill to sign this bill right away. A strong democracy depends on broad participation, equal access, and the protection of every person’s right to vote.”
“The NJVRA would restore and strengthen protections at the state level, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability in our electoral system,” said Ma’isha Aziz, Esq. President, NAACP Camden County East. “It would provide critical safeguards against discriminatory practices before they take effect, empower voters to challenge inequities, and modernize access so that every eligible voter—regardless of race, language, disability, or zip code—can fully participate in our democracy. For the NAACP, this is a continuation of a long legacy: the fight to protect the sacred right to vote. Democracy only works when all voices are heard and all votes are counted equally.”
“Last November, New Jersey voters showed up to the polls in record numbers. Voter turnout was the highest it has been in more than two decade,” said Alicia Benjamin-Stennett, NJ State Social Action Coordinator, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. “Across the state, New Jerseyans made it clear that they want their voices to be heard.Fiercely protecting New Jersey voters at a time when our democracy and our right to vote is being imperiled by the federal government would position New Jersey, as a national leader and bulwark against the ongoing attacks on our democracy. It would also deliver on the promise to defend voting rights, protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that every eligible New Jerseyan can participate freely, safely and confidently. Saving our democracy cannot wait. We, the New Jersey Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., therefore, urge you to pass and sign into law the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act (NJVRA)”.
“As a 22-year-old African American voter in New Jersey, I am pleased to see the New Jersey Voting Rights Act moving forward,” said Ryan Bates, President, NAACP NJ State Conference Youth and College Division. “In a time when our nation is experiencing significant change, protecting the right to vote is more important than ever. Every voter deserves an equal opportunity to make their voice heard, and legislation like this helps strengthen that promise. The NAACP has long stood for the protection and expansion of voting rights, recognizing that access to the ballot is fundamental to a strong and representative democracy. I proudly stand in support of this legislation and the continued fight to ensure every eligible voter can participate freely, fairly, and without unnecessary barriers.”
“This bill brings New Jersey closer to the free, fair, and inclusive multiracial democracy that every voter deserves,” said Ronak Patel, staff attorney at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). “AALDEF applauds the New Jersey legislature for passing the appropriately-named John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, and we urge Governor Sherrill to sign this landmark legislation without delay. The NJVEA takes on some of the biggest barriers to equal participation by strengthening protections against voter suppression and expanding language access—critical reforms that will help ensure that Asian American communities and all communities of color have an equal voice in New Jersey’s democracy.”
“The passage of the New Jersey Voting Rights Act is a win built on a simple belief: every voice counts, including the young people our democracy too often overlooks,” said Amanda Ebokosia, Founder & CEO, The Gem Project, Inc. “At The Gem Project, our fellows have organized for years toward a New Jersey where access to the ballot is real, not theoretical. As this bill heads to Governor Sherrill’s desk, we celebrate a future where the next generation inherits a democracy that sees them, protects them, and makes room for their power.”
“On July 4, America marks 250 years of Independence—and it’s not lost on me that Black communities have always had to fight, generation after generation, to defend a democracy that wasn’t built with us in mind,”” said Racquel Romans-Henry, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Salvation and Social Justice. “History—and what we’re witnessing right now—reminds us that democracy is powerful in its promise, but fragile in practice. It doesn’t sustain itself; we have to actively protect it, or risk losing it. That’s why the passage of New Jersey’s Voting Rights Act matters. It’s a necessary step to protect the voices and votes of communities long pushed to the margins—and you simply cannot overstate how important this moment is for our future.”
“The New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition (NJBEC) celebrates the passage of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act in the State Senate and the historic steps it takes to protect democracy and expand access to the ballot,” said Jane Collins-Colding, Chair, New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition (NJBEC). At a time when voting rights are under attack across the nation, New Jersey is choosing a different path: one that defends Black and Brown voters, strengthens election integrity, and ensures every voice is heard without fear, obstruction, or intimidation. We call on Our Governor Mikie Sherrill to Please sign this bill immediately. Every vote is sacred. Every voice matters. Democracy only survives when the ballot is protected for all.”
“Every eligible New Jerseyan deserves an equal opportunity to make their voice heard at the ballot box,” said Aly Azhar, NJ Organizing Manager, Emgage Action. “The New Jersey John Lewis Voter Empowerment Act is a critical step toward ensuring that our democracy works for everyone by strengthening protections against discrimination and expanding access to the fundamental right to vote. For Muslim Americans and many other historically underrepresented communities, meaningful participation in our democracy depends on fair and equitable access to the electoral process. By passing the New Jersey Voter Empowerment Act, the State Senate has reaffirmed that every vote matters and every community deserves equal representation. Emgage Action urges Governor Sherill to sign this landmark legislation and continue New Jersey’s tradition of protecting civil rights, strengthening our democracy, and ensuring that every eligible voter can fully participate in shaping our state’s future.”
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