Voting Rights Legislation: Congressional Black Caucus Presses On Despite Setbacks

Strategic Insights -

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, remains optimistic about the fight for voting rights despite the defeat of the John Lewis Act on the Senate floor. The legislation, which would have expanded automatic and same-day voter registration, early voting, and voting by mail, among other provisions, was blocked by Republican opposition. However, Beatty and other advocates of the proposal say it's needed to counter widespread voter suppression efforts throughout the country.

Key Takeaways:

  • The John Lewis Act would have expanded automatic and same-day voter registration, early voting, and voting by mail, and limited removal of voters from rolls.
  • The bill would have made Election Day a federal holiday and made it a crime to "corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote."
  • Democrats have sought changes to voting laws since the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder invalidated part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  • State legislatures have introduced over 400 bills that would discourage voting, with 19 states passing 33 new laws to make voting harder last year.
  • Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature has also attempted to pass efforts to reduce early voting, bar most voters from using mail-in ballots, cut precinct hours, and limit ballot drop boxes.
  • The effort to change the filibuster rules failed, but Democrats haven't given up on seeking voting reforms.

Statistics:

  • 19 states passed 33 new laws last year to make voting harder. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice)
  • 49 states introduced over 400 bills that would discourage voting. (Source: Congressional Black Caucus)
  • 5.97 million Ohioans cast a vote in the last election, representing 74 percent of eligible voters in the state. (Source: Ohio Secretary of State)
  • The majority of these voters (68.7%) approved of the Voting Rights Act in 2020. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Automatic voter registration through each state's motor vehicle agency could increase voter turnout by 12-17% and boost civic engagement among marginalized communities. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice)

Sources:

  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Brennan Center for Justice
  • Cleveland.com
  • United States House of Representatives
  • U.S. Census Bureau