Washington, D.C. — On National Voter Registration Day, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey, D-Texas, reintroduced their resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.”
“You can’t have a democracy if the people can’t vote,” Wyden said. “As we approach a pivotal election this fall, we must double down on our commitment to safeguarding the right to vote for every American. I am proud to once again join Representative Veasey to make sure everyone understands that with their vote, the American people have not only a ‘say’ in our country’s elections but also a choice for a better and brighter future.”
“Our freedom in this country is dependent on our right to vote,” Veasey said. “Right now, in my home town of Fort Worth and in many cities across the nation, there is a concerted effort to suppress the voice and vote of the citizens of this great nation. We must work in a bipartisan manner to promote safety, convenience, and ease of voting for all Americans, regardless of party.”
The resolution encourages voter registration in the month of September and calls on Congress to preserve the right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act, and by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., Angus King, I-Maine, Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Cory Booker, D-N.J., Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Jack Reed, D-R.I., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Tom Carper, D-Del., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.
The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams, D-N.C., Becca Balint, D-Vt., Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., André Carson, D-Ind., Troy Carter, D-La., Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., Al Green, D-Texas, Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Hank Johnson, D-Ga., Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Summer Lee, D-Pa., Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., Betty McCollum, D-Minn., Gwen Moore, D-Wis., Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Sarbanes, D-Md., David Scott, D-Ga., Bobby Scott, D-Va., Terri Sewell, D-Ala., Haley Stevens, D-Mich., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., Nikema Williams, D-Ga., and Frederica Wilson, D-Fla.
“With the election less than two months away, it is important that we prioritize expanding access to voting and preserving our democracy. Declaring National Voting Rights Month sends an important message about how foundational voting rights are to our democracy and our country,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy & Political Affairs at Stand Up America. “During National Voting Rights Month, it is critical that we and Congress reflect on the state of our democracy and recommit to fighting for the right to vote. I’m grateful for Senator Wyden’s continued leadership in this work.”
The text of the bill is here.
A web version of this release is here.
###