Voting Rights

Voting Rights
Every election, Americans head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and our democracy, and embraced false conspiracy theories that undermine public confidence in our voting systems.
Every election, Americans head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and our democracy, and embraced false conspiracy theories that undermine public confidence in our voting systems.

In the 117th Congress, Democrats passed H.R. 1, the For The People Act, which would promote government transparency, strengthen access to the ballot box, secure election infrastructure, and curb the influence of dark money in politics. The House also passed H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, which would reauthorize key portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that were struck down in the Supreme Court’s flawed Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. DNC decisions. In addition, the House passed H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which would set basic nationwide standards for how elections are conducted and take action to end partisan gerrymandering. Senate Republicans shamefully continue to obstruct these vital pieces of civil rights legislation and attack our democracy.
Democrats will continue to protect our democracy, advance the cause of voting rights, and expand access to the ballot box. We will fight to ensure that misleading information does not deter Americans from participating in our democracy and having confidence in the results of our free and fair elections.
Voting Rights Related
Wanted to be sure you saw this Medium post by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) published today on the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Help America Vote Act and the need to protect our democracy by conducting safe and secure elections.
10/29/22
Like their counterparts in Georgia and Florida, Republican state legislators in Arizona have chosen to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people rather than having to compete in free and fair elections. This law, signed yesterday by Governor Ducey, now enters the history books as one of the worst anti-voting measures to be approved since the end of the Jim Crow era in our country.
5/12/21
Once again we are seeing Republicans across the country, this time in Florida, restricting the right to vote under the guise of maintaining ‘election integrity.’ Make no mistake: the legislation that passed the Florida Legislature late last night is a thinly-veiled attempt to suppress access to the ballot box – particularly for Americans of color – and allow for continued Republican control across the state.
4/30/21
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” today to discuss the upcoming House vote on DC statehood legislation, the American Jobs Plan, and progress on policing legislation. Below are excerpts of his remarks and a link to the video:
 
4/22/21
WASHINGTON, DC – This afternoon, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) led a press conference with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) ahead of Thursday’s vote in the House on H.R. 51, the Washington, DC Admission Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks:

4/21/21
Today marks the 100th day of the 117th Congress. In that time, House Democrats have passed important pieces of legislation and taken decisive action on behalf of the American people. Take a look at the major bills that have passed the House since the beginning of this Congress: 

H.R. 447, National Apprenticeship Act

4/12/21
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight after Governor Brian Kemp signed a sweeping voter suppression bill into law: 

3/25/21
Since the 117th Congress began, House Democrats have taken action to advance a number of bills that address issues critically important to the American people.
3/22/21
I can think of no greater way of memorializing John Lewis and those who faced violence alongside him in Selma, fifty-six years ago today, than to take additional steps to protect and expand access to voting.
3/7/21
Now, the 117th Congress is facing one of the most daunting scenarios that we've seen. We faced daunting scenarios the last time we were in the Majority in 2009, 2007, but 2008, we had the Great Recession and we needed to respond.
3/2/21
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have now crossed the 270-vote threshold to become the next President and Vice President of the United States.
12/14/20
Tonight’s Supreme Court decision should put an end to Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the presidential election that he lost.
12/11/20
"It has now been one year since the Democratic-led House passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 
12/6/20
With two weeks left before Election Day and millions of Americans already casting their ballots, President Donald Trump still has not indicated what his policy agenda would be for a second term.
10/21/20
Hi, this is Congressman Steny Hoyer, I’m the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives in Washington. Today is National Voter Registration Day. The right to vote is sacred, such a privilege. And it is the duty of every patriotic citizen to participate in our democracy by choosing leaders for our communities, our states, and our country.
9/22/20
…84,631 deaths since [the] Heroes [Act] passed…. No action in the Republican-controlled and led United States Senate. So, don't whine to me about what you want on the Floor. Don't whine to me about ‘we could have done this,’ ‘we could have done that,’ ‘we could have done the other.’ ….
8/22/20
One-hundred years ago today, the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified as a part of our Constitution, guaranteeing that women would no longer be denied the right to vote under law.  
8/18/20
Fifty-five years ago today, President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, bringing to fruition the goals of those who courageously marched with John Lewis in Selma and with Dr. King and so many others to Montgomery earlier that year. 
8/6/20
America does not have dictators who unlawfully cancel elections. President Trump has no power to cancel or delay the 2020 election, which will be held on November 3. This is something he would know had he read the Constitution he swore to protect and defend.
7/30/20
Wanted to be sure you saw this USA Today op-ed by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) published today on how action is required on election security meausres to ensure democracy is not jepordized and every American can vote safely this Election Day. To read the post, click here or see below:
6/30/20
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and her extraordinary quest, keeping her eye on the prize to make sure that the citizens she represents have full citizenship. I’m proud to stand with her in supporting statehood for the people of the District of Columbia…I want to thank Mayor Bowser with whom I have been proud to work [with] to move this issue forward, with the leadership of Delegate Holmes Norton. I made clear when we announced that the House would consider this bill today, the people who call our nation's capital home have been disenfranchised and shortchanged for too long. Martin Luther king said how long? Too long. 
6/26/20
Thank you very much. I’m going to leave this mask on. This mask is about voting rights. This mask is about respect. This mask is about doing what our democracy demands: facilitating that everybody in America, every individual, every American citizen has the right to vote and to have their vote counted.
6/26/20
Yesterday, House Democrats announced that on Friday, June 26, the House will vote on H.R. 51 to designate the District of Columbia as a state and grant full representation to the over 700,000 Americans who live in the District. Here’s a look at what’s been said in the news:
 
6/17/20
The coronavirus outbreak has upended the routines of every American, forcing us to rethink how we live, work, and interact with one another. Ever resilient, our communities are adapting in innovative ways to ‘flatten the curve,’ save lives, and protect the livelihoods of our neighbors impacted by economic disruption.
5/4/20