Delaware Passes the John Lewis Voting Rights Act

Historic legislation gives the state its own shield against voter suppression — and names it after a civil rights giant.

Delaware made history on June 30, 2026, when the state Senate unanimously passed the Delaware John Lewis Voting Rights Act (House Bill 444), sending it to Governor Matt Meyer for his signature. The vote — 21 to 0 in the Senate — capped a decisive legislative journey that saw the bill clear the House on June 18 with a vote of 29 to 11.

What does the law do? In plain terms, it is Delaware’s own shield for every voter’s right to cast a ballot without intimidation, obstruction, or manipulation. At the federal level, the U.S. Supreme Court has steadily weakened the original 1965 Voting Rights Act. This legislation fills that gap for Delawareans. It empowers the state Attorney General to sue individuals, organizations, or government bodies whose actions suppress or dilute the vote — even if no discriminatory intent can be proven. It also requires language assistance so that voters who are not fluent in English can make fully informed choices at the ballot box.

The bill was named in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon who was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 fighting for the very rights this law now codifies in Delaware law. Delaware becomes the first state to pass such legislation in direct response to the Supreme Court’s 2026 Callais v. Louisiana decision.

The Senate vote was unanimous and bipartisan — a remarkable show of unity. In the House, the bill passed 29-11, with all opposition coming from Republican members. Notably, Sussex County’s own Senator Russ Huxtable (D-Lewes) was among the bill’s co-sponsors, as was Senator Bryant Richardson (R-Millsboro) — the lone Republican in either chamber to co-sponsor the bill. Representative Alonna Berry (D), who represents communities in southern Delaware including parts of Sussex County, was also among the House co-sponsors.