Price Calls on Congress to Strengthen, Pass Voting Rights Amendment Act

Press Release

Representative David Price (D-NC) issued the following statement today calling on his colleagues in Congress to strengthen and pass H.R. 3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act. The bill would modernize the Voting Rights Act (VRA) in response to the Supreme Court's sharply-divided decision striking down the law's Section 4. Section 4 of the VRA determined which areas of the country -- including 40 counties in North Carolina -- had to comply with Section 5, which prohibits any changes in voting requirements or in district lines that would discriminate based on race or color.

"The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. Congress must act in response to the Supreme Court's misguided decision so the Voting Rights Act can again be used to ensure every American, regardless of race, can exercise this fundamental right. The Voting Rights Amendment Act is a good start in this critical effort, and in the coming months I will work with any colleague interested in improving this measure and moving it forward to passage."

Rep. Price has been a consistent advocate for efforts to protect the right of every eligible voter to cast his or her ballot freely and fairly while promoting greater transparency and accountability in the electoral process. He is the author of the "Stand By Your Ad" law, which requires candidates appear in their ads and claim responsibility for them, and the Empowering Citizens Act, a sweeping campaign finance reform bill. He is also a cosponsor of the SIMPLE Voting Act, which would require states to make early voting available for at least 15 days prior to federal election days, and the Voter Empowerment Act, which would modernize the voter registration system and require same-day registration be available.

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