Yesterday, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) voted to send the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act to the Senate for urgent consideration. This bill seeks to clean up Washington, protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government, and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests.
"The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act will help ensure our government is elected by the people and works for the people," said Rep. Delgado. "As elected officials, it is our duty to protect, strengthen and grow our democracy. From anti-corruption measures to increased voter protections, this legislation honors the lifelong commitment of civil rights leaders like John Lewis who fought tirelessly to empower all Americans and restore our fundamental right to vote. I am calling on the Senate to immediately consider this essential bill."
Key provisions of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act include:
-Establishing an online and automatic voting registration system
-Prohibiting interference with or preventing another person from registering to vote
-Making election day a federal work holiday
-Requiring all states to allow early voting and prohibiting states from restricting the ability to vote by mail
-Prohibiting partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts
-Authorizing grants to states to secure election systems
-Expanding requirements for independent groups to disclose their donors and political expenditures
-Requiring online political ads to include disclaimers identifying who paid for it
-Requiring candidates to report certain communications with foreign governments and political parties