No right is more fundamental to our democracy than the right to vote, yet many voters are at risk of losing this right as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate key provisions of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). A bipartisan effort in Congress to modernize the VRA can help restore this key law back to its full strength and focus its provisions where there are still problems.

In Virginia, we can be proud of the tremendous progress we have made to protect every citizen’s right to vote. In fact, we’ve made so much progress that under this new version of the VRA, we would no longer be singled out for special treatment.

As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Sixth District, can play a key role in moving this legislation forward by scheduling hearings to consider it.

The League of Women Voters of Lynchburg calls on Rep. Goodlatte to step up and move this process forward. Protecting the right to vote is something that every member of Congress should be able to agree on. Virginians and all Americans deserve to hear a debate on this issue. We’re counting on him to move this legislation to the next level.

JOAN MACCALLUM

President

League of Women Voters of Lynchburg

Watch out for the bikers

Warm weather is here, and the bikers are coming out. Not everyone will be riding only on a bike trail downtown.

Lynchburg is in no way biker-safe, so with that being said, they will ride where they can in order to be safe. In fact, most people curse a rider when they come upon one.

Too bad for you, because bikers have rights; maybe if some drivers got off their phones, they could ride a bike also. Perhaps if City Council would add more bike lanes, it would be safer.

As it is, people are now riding on sidewalks and will continue to do so until council does something about it and not just inside inner city. There will be greater risks because cyclist are multiplying, and that, believe it or not, is a good thing.

RYAN LACY

Lynchburg

A better way on feral cats

I am a Bedford County resident who read the April 22 column on feral cats with great interest.

I did not realize that there was a debate on how local governments should address the issue of at-large cats. Based on what is being done in surrounding areas, I think Bedford should stop spending time and money on rounding up at-large cats. We don’t pay county employees to capture skunks, raccoons, bats or other creatures that might annoy homeowners or carry rabies.

Let’s keep the at-large cats out of the Bedford shelter. That way we can focus on rehoming adoptable dogs and cats, instead of euthanizing cats that have been living on their own in the wild and won’t make good pets.

MARTIN TOLHOEK

Bedford