Richmond, VA - New Virginia Majority issued the following statement on the Defeat of Senator Norment's Voter Suppression Bill SJ223: Virginians won an important victory today as Senator Tommy Norment’s bill, SJ223, an attempt to write voter suppression into Virginia’s constitution, was defeated in committee.

“The proposed measure does not belong in Virginia’s Constitution. Preventing citizens from voting because of their past mistakes or their inability to pay does not reflect Virginia’s values,” said New Virginia Majority Co-Executive Director Tram Nguyen. “We thank Virginians for all the calls, letters, and visits to lawmakers to oppose this modern-day poll tax and are grateful that the General Assembly responded by not carrying forward a Jim Crow attack on voting rights.”

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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization, and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic, and environmentally sustainable.