“Voice is valuable. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” — John Lewis
The LiveMint Quote of the Day is from the late civil rights leader John Lewis. It’s a call to action that frames voting not just as a civic duty, but as a form of nonviolent resistance and a vital exercise of power.
Two Indian states – West Bengal and Tamil Nadu – are going to the polls today.
Elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly are being held in a single phase today, while West Bengal will witness two phases of voting for the 2026 assembly elections, with the second phase slated to be held on April 29.
The first phase covers all 54 seats in North Bengal, along with key constituencies in South Bengal and Junglemahal – regions that are key to the BJP’s expansion plans and the TMC’s bid to maintain dominance.
Elections are being held for 234 assembly constituencies across Tamil Nadu.
The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
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What does the quote mean?
To understand Lewis’s message, we can break it down into three main components:
“Voice is valuable”: Lewis spent his life fighting for voting rights, most notably during the “Bloody Sunday” march in Selma. To him, the vote was “precious” because it was paid for with the struggle, blood and lives of those who were historically disenfranchised.
“The Most Powerful Nonviolent Tool”: In a world where political change is often sought through conflict, Lewis identifies voting as the ultimate alternative to bullets. It is a mechanism by which the marginalized can challenge the status quo without the use of physical force.
“We have to use it”: This is imperative. A tool is only effective if it is used. Lewis argues that silence at the polls is an abdication of one’s agency and a free pass for those in power to ignore one’s needs.
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Relevance today
In 2026, as we navigate a complex global landscape, this sentiment remains more relevant than ever for several reasons:
- Fighting disinformation and AI: With the rise of deepfakes and AI-driven disinformation, the clarity of a physical or digital vote becomes the definitive statement of truth. At a time when it’s hard to know what’s real, voting remains one of the few tangible ways an individual can directly influence the direction of their government.
- Addressing global polarization: Today’s societies are increasingly polarized. Lewis’s emphasis on “nonviolent instruments” reminds us that democracy is designed to resolve these deep-seated differences through debate and election rather than civil unrest.
- Representation in the digital economy: As issues like automation, data privacy, and climate change dominate the legislative agenda, the “scarce” nature of voting ensures that the ethics of the future will be dictated by people—not corporations or algorithms.
- Fighting voter apathy: In 2026, the feeling that “my vote doesn’t count” is a significant obstacle. Lewis’ quote serves as a rebuttal to this cynicism. He points out that the reason certain groups try to make voting difficult is because voting is actually incredibly powerful.
“Voting is the most powerful tool ever devised by man to break down injustice and destroy the terrible walls that imprison people because they are different from others.” Lyndon B. Johnson said, echoing Lewis’ sentiment.
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Who is John Lewis?
John Robert Lewis (1940–2020) was a key figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and a longtime member of the US House of Representatives. Often referred to as the “Conscience of Congress”, he was known for his lifelong commitment to non-violent activism and his unwavering pursuit of what he called “good trouble”.
Born to sharecroppers in rural Alabama, Lewis was inspired as a teenager by the Montgomery bus boycott and radio broadcasts by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His activism began in earnest during his college years and quickly placed him at the center of the movement:
Lewis was the youngest of the “Big Six” leaders who organized the 1963 March on Washington, where he was the keynote speaker at just 23 years old.
From 1963 to 1966, he served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which was instrumental in organizing sit-ins and voter registration drives.
In 1961, he was one of the original 13 Freedom Riders who challenged illegal segregation on interstate buses, during which he was brutally beaten and arrested several times.
On March 7, 1965, Lewis led 600 protesters across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. He suffered a fractured skull when state troopers attacked peaceful protesters—an event that televised the brutality of segregation and sparked support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
After years of grassroots organizing, Lewis entered electoral politics to continue his advocacy of human rights in government. Before taking office, he directed the Voter Education Project, which helped register millions of minority voters.
In 1986, he was elected to represent Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, a seat he held for more than 30 years until his death in 2020.
In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Lewis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Upon his death, he became the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, a testament to his status as a national hero.
