On June 13th, the U.S. House passed HR 9, the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act, by the overwhelming margin of 390-33. This act would extend key provisions of the original act that protect against discrimination in voting as well as continue to provide the foundation for the movement for fair representation. As a member of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, FairVote joins a large number of civil rights organizations, religious groups, labor unions and large corporations in applauding the House vote.As Senate hearings continue through July 20th, FairVote urges the Senate to move us one step closer to an equally protected right to vote.
[ Voting Rights Act Basics ]
[ Voting Rights Act Resources ]
On
June 13, the Rhode Island House passed HB 8022
which would lower the voter registration age to 16. FairVote advocates universal voter registration, and sees
this change as helpful for efforts to register all young adults as they
become eligible to vote. FairVote's
John Anderson and Rob Richie joined state legislators and a
leading Secretary of State candidate in April in support of the measure.
In his new book Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression,
George Washington University law professor Spencer Overton examines
electoral problems in the U.S. from a systemic perspective, explaining
how "politicians use an invisible matrix of election rules,
practices, and procedures to shape the electorate and determine
political outcomes." Overton champions a number of core FairVote reform
proposals including universal voter registration, proportional voting
and citizens assemblies to address election reform issues in a fair and
public manner.