Underwood-Backed Legislation to Strengthen Voting Rights Passes the House

Statement

Today, the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), legislation cosponsored by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), passed the House of Representatives. The Voting Rights Advancement Act restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act to ensure all Americans have an equal opportunity to vote and participate in the political process. The legislation achieves this by updating the process that determines which states require preclearance for election changes with the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to establish practice-based preclearance and increases transparency by requiring reasonable public notice for voting changes.

"The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. That's why it's essential Congress works to protect it and ensure every state is held accountable to do the same. I'm proud to support the Voting Rights Advancement Act and urge my colleagues in the Senate to consider this bill," said Underwood.

In Congress, Underwood has worked to ensure that American elections and voting is free, fair, and secure. In March, the House passed Underwood-backed legislation, H.R. 1, to restore our democracy and ensure clean and fair elections. The legislation would expand voting rights by targeting institutional barriers to voting, such as burdensome voter registration systems, limited voting hours, and voter roll purges.

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