Voting Rights Legislation in the United States

Freedom to Vote Act

The Freedom to Vote Act (formerly known as the For the People Act) is a bill in the United States Congress intended to expand voting rights and change campaign finance laws. The bill consolidates several voting rights measures into one comprehensive piece of legislation, and it is considered to be one of the most significant voting rights bills in decades. Some of the key provisions of the Freedom to Vote Act include: * Expanding automatic voter registration and making it easier to register to vote. * Creating a national holiday for Election Day. * Restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences. * Expanding early voting and mail-in voting options. * Limiting the influence of money in politics by reducing the amount of money that individuals and corporations can donate to political campaigns. The Freedom to Vote Act has been met with strong opposition from Republicans, who argue that it would lead to voter fraud and undermine the integrity of elections. However, supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect the right to vote and to ensure that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act

The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 consolidated and recodified the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act and the Federal Voting Assistance Act. It ensures that members of the Uniformed Services and overseas citizens are able to vote in federal elections.

Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

The Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023 is proposed voting rights legislation named after civil rights activist John Lewis. The bill would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which has been weakened by Supreme Court rulings in recent years. The Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act includes a number of provisions to protect the right to vote, such as: * Expanding the definition of "discrimination" to include practices that have a discriminatory effect on voters. * Restoring the requirement that certain states and localities obtain federal approval before changing their voting laws. * Creating a new private right of action for voters who have been discriminated against. The Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act has been endorsed by a broad coalition of civil rights groups and voting rights advocates. However, it is expected to face strong opposition from Republicans, who have argued that it is unnecessary and would lead to voter fraud.