Bustos Helps Pass Landmark John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) helped pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, as the United States faces the worst voter suppression campaign since Jim Crow. The landmark legislation will restore many of the critical protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

"Your vote is your voice in our democratic system, but across the nation, state legislatures are waging a war on voting rights and access to the ballot. As many Americans struggle to have their voices heard, I was proud to vote to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. "This historic legislation honors the legacy of my friend, the late Congressman John Lewis, and will help secure the sacred right to vote for every American."

The Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and strengthen key protections from the 1965 Voting Rights Act that were invalidated by the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision. In the years since the Supreme Court gutted these vital voting protections, states and localities throughout the country have passed sweeping laws that disproportionately suppress the voting rights of many. These laws have left voters without the protections they need to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Key provisions of the Voting Rights Advancement Act will:

Allow federal courts to immediately halt measures that put voting rights at stake until a final ruling is made.
Empower the Attorney General to request that federal election observers be present anywhere in the country where discriminatory voting practices pose a serious threat.
Require reasonable public notice for proposed voting changes to increase transparency.
Allow the federal government to review already-enacted but not-yet-implemented measures.
Help plaintiffs seek injunctive relief for voting rights violations ahead of an election.
Establish a grant program for small jurisdictions to help them comply with the bill's requirement to provide public notice for proposed voting laws.

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