Pledging Archive

HUMAN RIGHTS »» CIVIL RIGHTS »» VOTING RIGHTS ACT »» Feb 26, 2024
The 1965 Voting Rights Act prohibited government from imposing any “voting qualification or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice or procedure ... to deny or abridge the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race or color.” Patriots say this iconic law affirms that our Constitutional right to vote is essential to our democracy. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4b of the Voting Rights Act. This section required states with histories of voter suppression to receive pre-clearance from the Justice Department before changing their election procedures. The Court ruled these pre-clearances are no longer necessary. Soon afterwards, states began enacting previously-illegal voter suppression laws that restricted minorities, the elderly, students, those disabled, and others from voting.

The 2020 election showed why we need our Voting Rights Act restored. Many states have purged voters from registration rolls under the guise of “maintenance,” or voided ballots because of technicalities such signatures that didn’t perfectly match-up with those on file. Some states have imposed strict photo ID requirements in order to vote. Other states have restricted voting and registration in many ways that disproportionately affect African Americans. These restrictions include cutting back on early voting, removing ballot drop-off boxes, and disallowing ballots that had been mailed on time but delivered after election day. Our Postmaster General intentionally slowed mail delivers prior to the election by removing large sorting machines from mail processing centers and prohibiting overtime pay for postal employees.

Pending Legislation: H.R.14 - John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Terri Sewell (AL)
Status: House Committee on the Judiciary
Chair: Rep. Jim Jordan (OH)

  • I oppose reforming current Voting Rights Act policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
  • I support establishing new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect by: 1.) Requiring a state and all of its political subdivisions be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or 3 or more violations occurred and the state administers the elections. 2.) A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. 3.) States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting. 4.) States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. 5.) Authorizing the DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. 6.) Outlining factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
Winning Option »» No issues were voted

  • I support establishing new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect by: 1.) Requiring a state and all of its political subdivisions be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years: 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or 3 or more violations occurred and the state administers the elections. 2.) A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. 3.) States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting. 4.) States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. 5.) Authorizing the DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. 6.) Outlining factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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Money Pledged

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Poll Opening Date February 26, 2024
Poll Closing Date March 03, 2024