As we experienced the recent presidential inauguration, the United States was thrown into an unprecedented era filled with hostility and dissention. How did we manage to enter an epoch where animosity and separation appear to be more common than friendship and unity? Born and raised in Denver, brought up as a Southern Baptist Christian by my father – a native of Birmingham, Alabama – I was inculcated with the principle, ‘treat others as you want to be treated.’ This wasn’t merely a platitude; it defined our way of life. I have spent my life across Colorado in places like Denver, Aurora, and Colorado Springs, witnessing the enormous strength unity and democracy can offer.
Over the past half century, the federal Voting Rights Act enjoyed the support from both partisan stances. Fast forward to 2025, we now have the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act pending in Washington D.C. The act, if passed will safeguard the rights of voters. A thought-provoking question arises, however – why are we still wrestling for the righteousness in voting in these modern times? Unfortunately, despite the evolution and advancement of human rights, our society remains stained by racism, sexism, and bigotry.
Under the banners of rescuing democracy, Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign. Though it was her attempt to shatter the glass ceiling and become the first woman of color in the highest office, she didn’t live up to the expectations. Her sloganeering did little to shield the fact that her campaign was not robust enough to succeed.
As a parent to a college-going child, the contemplation about America’s future bearings can often become intense. The terms democracy and freedom are tossed around frequently, but the depth of their implications sometimes seems lost. Is it possible for the younger generation to truly appreciate democracy when they have never known a life devoid of it?
The value of democracy emerges blatantly only when we comprehend what a life without selections, representations or voting really means, or when we contemplate the stark emptiness without figures like Barack Obama or Kamala Harris. Still, growing up, I never dreamed I’d see the day a black president or a black vice president took the oath.
Could their ascendancy have provoked bitterness amongst right-leaning Christian groups, catalyzing the move to oppress the voting rights? Also, could their victories have falsely led people of color to assume that they are on an equal footing in terms of voting – when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth?
It is high time our elected officials descended from their lofty pedestals and got to the root of why voting is pivotal. The ongoing struggle to conserve our voting rights in Colorado is neither about race nor difference – it is fundamentally a question of our basic humane rights. Voting is the bedrock of our democracy, a privilege that ought to be prized and defended.
Regretfully, instead of heading towards progress, we keep witnessing disturbing regresses. The year 2025 sees political discourse sadly obsessed with figures like Trump, while the actual problems run much deeper. A culture of antagonism and factionalism has taken hold, and it is absolutely essential we confront it.
Colorado’s role in this battle is anything but ordinary. I can testify to this bias when I revealed my Denver roots to my acquaintances. Their reaction was, sadly, of silent prejudice, assuming that Colorado was nothing more than a haven for white people. Well, what about immigrants or people of color?
Unsurprisingly, our state has the potential to dismantle these unfair preconceived notions. By ardently supporting voting rights, Colorado can trailblaze a path toward a more equitable and accepting democracy for all. At the national level, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act strives to regain the safeguards stripped from the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
This Act’s primary aim is to ensure that every voter is heard, irrespective of their race, income, language, or location. But, Colorado cannot afford to sit back and wait for Congress to act. In order to compel federal legislators to act, Colorado must set a leading example.
The right to vote is not merely a privilege; it’s an unequivocal promise. It’s a promise that we are all deserved to influence the decisions affecting our lives. We must hold true to this commitment. The Colorado State Bill 25-1, or the Colorado Voting Rights Act, seeks to restore essential protections, extend access to ballots in multiple languages and ensure election integrity all over the state.
This Act emphasizes that every Colorado citizen, regardless of their race, income, location, or language, deserves an equal voice in our democracy. We have made substantial progress over the years, but there’s still a long journey ahead of us. Colorado faces one of the country’s widest racial turnout gaps, and it is crucial to sealing these fissures through measures such as the Colorado Voting Rights Act.
The proposed bill will aid in eliminating systematic disenfranchisement, widen access, and warrant that our elections remain fair and accessible to everyone. There’s no room for complacency, waiting for action from Washington. Safekeeping the right to vote is paramount, and the Colorado Voting Rights Act serves as a pivotal step towards securing every Colorado inhabitants’ chance to vote without fear or intimidation.
We must strive to maintain Colorado at the forefront in terms of accessible and fair elections. Let’s fight to conserve our democracy and ensure that every vote is indeed counted.