Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is reintroducing the Right to Vote Act to establish the first-ever affirmative federal voting rights guarantee for all eligible citizens.
What does this bill do? This bill would protect American citizens’ right to vote by establishing a first-ever statutory right to vote in Federal elections, protecting citizens from laws that make it harder to participate.
What lawmakers are saying:
- Sen. Ossoff: “With voting rights under attack in Georgia and across the country, I am reintroducing my legislation to empower voters to challenge in court any action taken by a state or local government that makes it harder to vote, and force that state or that locality to demonstrate that the restrictions serve some governmental purpose and are the least restrictive means of doing so.”
- Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA): “Our vote is our voice, and this legislation is needed now more than ever as this administration has made clear that it will do everything in its power to limit access to the ballot box this fall. I’m proud to join my brother Senator Ossoff in introducing the Right to Vote Act.”
- Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA): “The Trump administration continues to threaten election and voter security in California and across the country by undermining trust and weakening access to resources. Free and fair elections are a cornerstone of American democracy. That’s why I am proud to join Senator Ossoff in this fight to guarantee citizens’ right to vote by authorizing voters to challenge in court actions that have been taken to restrict their ballot access.”
Context: The bill would allow Americans to enforce their right to vote by allowing them to challenge in court any policy that unduly restricts ballot access.
States attempting to restrict voting access would then have to meet a high bar to justify any policy that makes it more difficult for citizens to participate in federal elections.
Alongside the senators listed above, the cosponsors include Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
