Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff has introduced the Right to Vote Act, legislation to create a first-ever affirmative Federal voting rights guarantee for all U.S. citizens.
As voting rights are under attack in Georgia and across the country, the Right to Vote Act protects American citizens’ fundamental right to vote. It establishes a first-ever statutory right to vote in federal elections, protecting U.S. citizens from laws that make it harder to cast a ballot.
The bill allows Americans to enforce that right by challenging in court any policy that restricts ballot access. States attempting to restrict voting access will have to meet a high bar to justify any policy that makes it harder for U.S. citizens to participate in Federal elections.
The Right to Vote Act protects all actions necessary for Americans to participate in elections, including registering to vote, obtaining any ID required to vote, casting a ballot, and ensuring that the ballot is counted.
“The Right to Vote Act will for the first time enshrine the right to vote in Federal statute and allow U.S. citizens to challenge in court any policy that makes it harder for them to participate in elections,” Sen. Ossoff said.
New York Congressman Mondaire Jones (NY-17) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“As Republican-led legislatures weaponize the Big Lie to attack our free and fair elections, it is more important than ever for Congress to affirm that voters have a right to participate in our elections,” said Senator Alex Padilla, who co-sponsored the bill. “The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. When that foundation is undermined, Americans must have a clear standard that enables them to defend their right in court.”
“The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law enthusiastically supports this bill that will ensure that courts give full and fair consideration to claims that states and other jurisdictions have unnecessarily placed burdens on the right to vote. Because that right is preservative of all other rights, these protections are needed,” said Ezra Rosenberg, Co-Director, Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
