Why the Voting Rights Act Still Matters for Black Voters in 2026

On the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the fight is no longer only about securing the right to vote. It is about protecting access to the ballot as courts, lawmakers and election officials reshape participation, says Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters.

In an interview with The Root, Stewart shared her views on what’s at stake for voters today and beyond.

“There have been recent Supreme Court decisions that have definitely further eroded voting rights in this country,” Stewart told us. “That erosion causes confusion for voters because they’re like, ‘What does it mean for me in my vote?’”

Signed on Aug. 6, 1965 and a marquee achievement of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act outlawed literacy tests and other discriminatory barriers that blocked Black Americans from voting. But Stewart said: “We still have to deal with voter suppression. That is what is old. What’s new is the current threats.”

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One of the biggest turning points came in 2013, when the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder weakened Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, ending federal requirements for states and jurisdictions with histories of discrimination.

Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting rules that discriminate based on race, color or language, has also faced challenges in recent years. Voting rights advocates point to the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais as another setback for enforcement.

“When that was taken away, it allowed states to make discriminatory laws without having any oversight,” Stewart said, referring to Sections 2 and 5.

As we head to the midterms, another major debate centers on the SAVE Act, legislation supporters describe as an election security measure. Critics argue it could create new barriers for voters, particularly for women who changed their names after marriage or divorce, rural voters and military voters.

“If it was focused on election security, we already have security measures in place,” Stewart pointed out. “It would be fortifying those current things. That’s not what it’s doing.” She called it an explicit “form of voter suppression.”

Despite these hurdles, Stewart emphasized that protecting voting rights requires consistent participation.

“Voting rights or any right that we have only is strengthened and maintained if people use them,” she said. “You actually have to show up to vote in order for our rights to be protected.”

Let’s flash back to the 2024 election for a second, when 89.2 million registered and eligible voters did not participate, according to U.S. News & World Report… “The people who sat out outnumbered both candidates’ total number,” Stewart pointed out.

Regardless of whether voters cast a ballot, the CEO wants Americans to understand that policies will still impact them.

“Every single significant change that Black folks have been able to secure in this country… all of it stands back to us electing people who made decisions on our behalf,” she said. “We can’t think about it as just the midterms or the presidential [elections]. It’s really about civic engagement.”

Heading into November, Stewart’s advice is simple: make a voting plan and bring others with you.

She calls it the “Me plus five” strategy.

“All of us know somebody in that 89.2 million who did not vote,” Stewart explained. “How do we make sure that we touch five people in our own network to get them to make a voting plan and show up to vote in November?”

The League of Women Voters is marking the Voting Rights Act anniversary with a national pep rally and will host its Rise for Voting Rights events ahead of the midterms, including rallies in Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Phoenix and Berkeley, along with more local events nationwide.

The League is on a mission to support all voters ready to exercise their right come November. That was the same goal civil rights leaders fought to achieve in the 1960s. Now, Stewart said the dream continues.

“The work is not done,” she said. “But it doesn’t require everyone to do everything. Everybody just has to do a small part.”