What are the voting rights bills? Everything you need to know about these new laws. If you’re a voter and would like to exercise your right to vote, you should know about the new voting restrictions. This is because some states have already passed voting restrictions, making it harder for minority voters to get the vote. The new laws have also impacted the states’ voting laws. This is essential information, so you should read up on these bills before they’re signed into law.
Voting rights bill named for Lewis
A voting rights bill named for civil rights icon John R. Lewis faces a stiff fight in the Senate. The measure aimed to stifle Republican-led state voting restrictions, but Republicans blocked the legislation. The failure is a testament to GOP’s opposition to voting rights legislation. Here are some of the things the bill does. First, it restores the preclearance requirement for voting rights, eliminated in Shelby County v. Holder in 2017.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will reinstate parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down several key features of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, and this bill would reestablish the requirements. This bill would require states to preclear election laws, restore the right to vote, and strengthen other parts of the law. It would need 60 votes to pass, but that is not likely.
First-time voter requirements
HAVA (Help America Vote Act) imposes numerous requirements on elections. One such provision requires that new voters present valid identification, such as a driver’s license or social security card, when registering for the first time. New voters must present this identification at the polling booth, and acceptable forms of identification vary by state. For example, some states require photo identification. Regardless of the type of identification required, it is essential to meet the legal requirements.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is another bill that Democrats hope to pass. This bill is less concerned with voting mechanics than combating discrimination against voters of color. It also requires that convicted felons who were convicted of a felony be freed from incarceration. The first-time voter requirements under the voting rights bills may vary by state, but they will generally include conditions to be a citizen for at least ten years.
Impact on state laws
Voting rights legislation has a powerful impact on elections. Over 400 bills are currently being considered in state legislatures, but they would significantly curtail state powers to limit voting rights. The new law clarifies that “non-trivial” impairments of the right to vote require judicial scrutiny. This new law will prevent states from inventing creative means to suppress the right to vote. In addition, if election officials fail to count votes correctly, they can challenge those results in court. These challenges must be heard quickly and under a good standard.
In addition to the new federal law, the Freedom to Vote Act strengthened state election records protections and barred states from handing them over to private contractors. In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an anti-voting bill, but it was not released until the following week. The bill’s passage came behind closed doors during a private pro-Trump event. Local media were barred from attending the signing event, but Fox News was allowed to live-stream the event. The bill includes several changes to election administration and will harm Floridians and undermine fair elections in the state.
Impact on elections
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has set up a showdown over voting rights. He’s promised to push new federal voting rights legislation through the Senate despite the Republicans’ opposition. First, he must convince senators to change the chamber’s rules to pass the legislation, which requires 60 votes to pass a bill. However, he’s been facing resistance from several Democrats. The filibuster, which requires 10 Republican votes to move a statement forward, has become a central part of the voting rights debate.
In the United States, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has done much to advance the cause of minorities. However, forty years is not enough time to end discrimination. Discrimination and inequity persist in many states and jurisdictions. Fortunately, the Constitution guarantees all Americans the right to vote. But there is still room for improvement. While the law was passed to help people of color, it also significantly impacted elections for those who lived in rural areas.