WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 29, 2026) — Independent Sector CEO and President Akilah Watkins released the following statement responding to today’s Supreme Court ruling weakening key provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
“By gutting protections against minority disenfranchisement, today’s Supreme Court decision threatens to silence the voices and fracture the electoral power of historically-marginalized communities. Recent history shows that when courts water down the Voting Rights Act’s guardrails against racial discrimination, politicians feel empowered to intensify efforts to deny minority groups the opportunity to elect the candidates of their choice. Without these protections, entire populations could be left without a seat at the table in the halls of government — the very problem the Voting Rights Act was created to solve.
“The Voting Rights Act was enacted as a remedy to a century of laws blocking Black Americans and other historically disenfranchised communities from exercising their fundamental right to vote — and with that vote, elect representatives attuned to their needs. This law was a product of decades of civic engagement and community organizing — work that could not have been done without the many churches, student groups, and other charitable nonprofits that offered space, resources, and opportunities for collaboration. By weakening the Voting Rights Act, the Court threatens to turn back the clock on decades of progress, sever and isolate neighborhoods and communities, and undermine our government’s ability to effectively serve the American people.
“Nonprofits have long stood strong against attacks on the right to vote, and in the wake of this decision our voices will need to be clear and our advocacy both strategic and unwavering. If you represent a nonprofit organization and want to learn how to register and engage voters locally ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Independent Sector is joining with Nonprofit VOTE, the League of Women Voters, and Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy program to launch Voices in Action — a campaign aimed at giving nonprofits the tools and resources to support voters in their community. To learn more, register for our webinar happening Tuesday, May 5.”
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Independent Sector is the national membership organization that connects, strengthens, and advocates for nonprofits and philanthropies. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Media Contact: Chloe Kessock, chloek@independentsector.org, 727-433-2972
