Voting is one of the most fundamental ways we express our democracy. It’s not just about choosing your representatives, however; voting is also about setting the values that you and your community believe in. Whether that’s a healthy environment, quality education, equal pay or reducing the number of people who get caught up in crime, your vote matters.

But voting rights are constantly under threat. Gerrymandering, strict eligibility requirements and misinformation are some of the biggest threats to your right to vote. We are fighting to make sure that every eligible person has the chance to cast their ballot and have it counted.

The Founders gave states a huge role in determining who votes, but they also created a federal role to protect national interests. That means that sometimes the national government has to step in and fight for voter rights.

In the past, the federal government has made progress in protecting and expanding voting rights. For example, the Twenty-fourth Amendment abolished poll taxes, which were used to keep African Americans from voting in federal elections; the Fifteenth Amendment established citizenship and the right to vote for all citizens; and the Nineteenth Amendment gave women the vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests and required covered jurisdictions to obtain preclearance from the federal courts or the Justice Department before changing any voting laws.

In recent years, however, anti-voter policies have gained traction, with the Supreme Court striking down one key part of the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder in 2013.