CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT EVERY AMERICAN’S RIGHT TO VOTE

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, Congressman Joe Morelle, top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, which has jurisdiction over federal elections, joined his House Democratic colleagues in championing legislation to protect equal access to the ballot box for all Americans. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act—named for Rep. Morelle’s late colleague, John Lewis—takes a number of proactive steps to prevent voter discrimination and re-establish the protections within the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“As the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, I’m proud to lead the fight to safeguard every American’s fundamental right to vote—the very bedrock of our democracy,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “Passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a critical step towards fulfilling this goal and ensuring safe, secure elections. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation into law and help bring America closer to its fundamental, democratic promise.”

In recent years the Supreme Court has gutted some of the primary achievements enacted by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, paving the way for states to enact sweeping voter suppression laws that disproportionately impact underserved communities.

These tactics include restrictions on the types of identifications voters can use to register and vote, unfairly purging voters from election rolls, moving polling locations, and more. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act takes action to combat these discriminatory practices and protect the fundamental right of every American to vote.

Specifically, the bill:

• Establishes a targeted process for reviewing voting changes in jurisdictions nationwide, focusing on measures that have historically been used to discriminate against voters;
• Increases transparency by requiring reasonable public notice for voting changes;
• Gives the Attorney General authority to request the presence of federal observers anywhere in the country where there is a serious threat of racial discrimination in voting;
• Creates a new coverage formula that hinges on a finding of repeated voting rights violations in the preceding 25 years;
• Strengthens Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects the ability to challenge discriminatory voting practices.

As the top Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Morelle will continue to take a leadership role in advancing this legislation in the 119^th Congress and beyond. Earlier today, Congressman Morelle participated in a press conference with House Democratic Leadership to discuss this legislation. Watch his remarks here.

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