Freedom to Vote Act
- Last Action
- 7/18/2023
Actions
- 2023-07-18Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
- 2023-07-18Introduced in Senate
CRS Summary
As of 2023-07-18 (00)
Freedom to Vote Act
This bill addresses voter registration and voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance.
Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.
Next, the bill establishes Election Day as a federal holiday.
The bill declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence.
The bill establishes certain federal criminal offenses related to voting. In particular, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conduct (or attempted conduct) to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote.
Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including by requiring states to conduct post-election audits for federal elections.
The bill outlines criteria for congressional redistricting and generally prohibits mid-decade redistricting.
The bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
Cosponsors (20)
- Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
- Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
- Angus King (I-ME)
- Joseph Manchin (D-WV)
- Alex Padilla (D-CA)
- Jon Tester (D-MT)
- Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
- Charles Schumer (D-NY)
- Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
- Michael Bennet (D-CO)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Cory Booker (D-NJ)
- Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
- Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
- Ben Cardin (D-MD)
- Thomas Carper (D-DE)
- Bob Casey (D-PA)
- Christopher Coons (D-DE)
- Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
- Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Subjects
- Accounting and auditing
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Adult day care
- Aging
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
- Buy American requirements
- Child care and development
- Citizenship and naturalization
- Civil actions and liability
- Commemorative events and holidays
- Computer security and identity theft
- Computers and information technology
- Congressional districts and representation
- Congressional elections
- Congressional oversight
- Constitution and constitutional amendments
- Consumer credit
- Corporate finance and management
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.