CHESTER, PA — The New Pennsylvania Project (NPP) is marking the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) by continuing its core mission—registering new voters and promoting civic education across the Commonwealth. The organization is using this historic milestone to highlight ongoing threats to voting access and reinforce the need for robust participation in the democratic process.
Founded in 2021, NPP is a nonpartisan organization that focuses year-round on voter registration and engagement, particularly among historically marginalized communities. As the nation commemorates six decades since the landmark VRA was signed into law, NPP is underscoring the importance of vigilance in defending hard-won voting rights.
“With continued attacks on our freedom to vote coming from the federal government, and pending legislation such as the SAVE Act that will disenfranchise marginalized voters, it’s paramount that Pennsylvanians contact their U.S. Congresspeople and let them know that there is no better day than today to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,” said NPP founding CEO Kadida Kenner. “The Voting Rights Act was passed 60 years ago and our voting rights are still at risk today.”
The VRA, enacted on August 6, 1965, was a direct legislative response to the widespread suppression of Black voters, particularly in the South. It outlawed discriminatory practices such as literacy tests and poll taxes and introduced federal oversight to safeguard voter access. While certain protections are permanent under the Act, key enforcement provisions require periodic reauthorization—an issue that remains at the center of modern voting rights debates.
NPP’s work centers on increasing civic engagement among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrant communities, and younger voters—demographics that have historically faced barriers to participation. Through community-based efforts, NPP aims to ensure that all eligible voters in Pennsylvania are not only registered but informed and motivated to cast their ballots.
By aligning its mission with the legacy of the VRA, NPP is reinforcing the broader message that voting rights are not static but must be continually protected and expanded through persistent advocacy and grassroots action.
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