Legslation
The Democracy Campaign is working to effect change in legislation on Capitol Hill and in the states.
On Capitol Hill
Our Democracy Campaign work on the Hill covers the following issues:
- Ballot Integrity
- D.C. Voting Rights
- Deceptive Practices
- Electoral Reform and the Integrity of the Electoral Process
- Reforming Elections Comprehensively
- Renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
- Voting By Mail
Ballot Integrity: What's At Stake?
Americans’ trust in the integrity of our elections is a cornerstone of our democracy. Unfortunately, too many Americans today walk away from the polls wondering if their votes counted, or they fail to show up to the polls on Election Day because they have already discounted the importance of voting, believing that their votes do not matter. An electoral system that guarantees every citizen the right to vote and that facilitates rather than frustrates every citizen’s ability to cast a vote that is fairly and accurately counted should be an unquestioned right in the United States. We must take measures to protect the most fundamental and basic right provided to citizens of a democracy — the right to vote.
In particular, People For the American Way (PFAW) believes election reform should include six key elements:
- Resolving problems with the security and accessibility of voting systems
- Stopping intimidation and deceptive practices
- Eliminating over-restrictive and burdensome ID requirements
- Eliminating burdensome restrictions on voter registration requirements and increasing the franchise through such initiatives as early voting and no-excuse absentee balloting
- Creating a uniform system of counting provisional ballots
- Protecting minority voting rights through the fair access and administration of elections.
D.C. Voting Rights: What's At Stake?
As the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) evidenced, ensuring equal access to the ballot box is of paramount importance. People For the American Way (PFAW) was a leader in the VRA reauthorization fight, and accordingly supports measures to promote the right to vote for all Americans — including residents of the District of Columbia.
Just as it is impossible to ignore the hard fought battles and the countless number of Americans that risked their lives for the right to cast a ballot, it is also impossible to ignore the fact that the nearly 600,000 Americans living in DC still are not able to fully take advantage of this right. The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 (DC VRA) is the latest bill to help bridge this gap. Specifically, the DC VRA would turn the DC delegate into a full Representative and give that person full voting power, and add a fourth member to the Utah delegation.
Following the bi-partisan support for the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-246), DC voting rights must be given their due consideration in Congress. Though it does not grant Senate representation, the DC VRA would take a first, important step toward this goal — continuing the fight for the principles of freedom, fairness, equality, and the American Way.
Deceptive Practices: What's At Stake
Forty and fifty years ago, thousands of Americans risked their lives to challenge systems of blatant discrimination that prevented millions of Americans from exercising their right to vote. Many became martyrs for their work in the civil rights and voting rights movements. In the aftermath of the 2000 election, it has become clear that the nation’s voting procedures are still riddled with inequities and systemic problems that effectively prevent millions of Americans from casting votes that count. People For the American Way (PFAW) supports measures to ensure protection of this most fundamental of rights and believes that maintaining the integrity of our electoral process is critical to America’s democratic institutions.
In particular, PFAW believes action by election officials to implement electoral reforms should be guided by four fundamental principles:
- The voting process must be uniform and nondiscriminatory
- Voters must be able to independently and privately cast and verify their ballot
- Any voting system must comply with national certification standards
- Voter confidence and reliability in the electoral process must be maintained
Electoral Reform and the Integrity of the Electoral Process
Forty and fifty years ago, thousands of Americans risked their lives to challenge systems of blatant discrimination that prevented millions of Americans from exercising their right to vote. Many became martyrs for their work in the civil rights and voting rights movements. In the aftermath of the 2000 election, it has become clear that the nation’s voting procedures are still riddled with inequities and systemic problems that effectively prevent millions of Americans from casting votes that count. People For the American Way (PFAW) supports measures to ensure protection of this most fundamental of rights and believes that maintaining the integrity of our electoral process is critical to America’s democratic institutions.
In particular, PFAW believes action by election officials to implement electoral reforms should be guided by four fundamental principles:
- The voting process, particularly the voting systems and the administration of elections, must be uniform and nondiscriminatory
- Voters must be able to independently and privately cast and verify their ballot
- Any voting system must comply with national certification standards
- Voter confidence and reliability in the electoral process must be maintained
Reforming Elections Comprehensively
PFAW believes action by election officials to implement electoral reforms should be guided by four fundamental principles:
- The voting process must be uniform and nondiscriminatory
- Voters must be able to independently and privately cast and verify their ballot
- Any voting system must comply with national certification standards
- Voter confidence and reliability in the electoral process must be maintained
The Count Every Vote Act of 2007 helps to fulfill these principles by providing a uniform, non discriminatory voting process that addresses the multiplicity of problems voters have experienced in the most recent elections — so that all voters can have confidence in the reliability of the electoral process.
Renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: What's At Stake
As we move forward in addressing the voting irregularities that were highlighted in the recent elections, we must also continue to encourage the proper enforcement of our current laws like the Voting Rights Act (VRA) — considered one of the most important civil rights laws of our time.
Over 40 years ago thousands of Americans risked their lives to challenge systems of blatant discrimination that prevented millions of Americans from exercising their right to vote. After continued protests by civil rights activists and everyday citizens over the gross disenfranchisement of African Americans — culminating in a violent confrontation in 1965 during an Alabama protest for voting rights — President Johnson finally signed the VRA into law. The VRA continues to ensure that all racial minorities in America have equal access to the ballot box. Since being enacted, the temporary provisions of the VRA have been renewed and extended five times. These key temporary provisions must be reauthorized again by August of 2032. People For the American Way (PFAW) resoundingly supports the renewal and restoration of these temporary provisions within the VRA. Reauthorizing these provisions should be of paramount importance to anyone concerned about protecting the right to vote.
In particular, we must make certain that the following provisions are reauthorized:
- The requirement of preclearance by the DOJ or the federal court before any significant changes in local voting laws are authorized
- The requirement of bilingual voting materials in certain counties
- The use of federal registrars and election monitors
PFAW believes action by election officials to implement electoral reforms should be guided by four fundamental principles:
- The voting process must be uniform and nondiscriminatory
- Voters must be able to independently and privately cast and verify their ballot
- Any voting system must comply with national certification standards
- Voter confidence and reliability in the electoral process must be maintained
The Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2007 helps to fulfill these principles by giving every voter in the United States an equal opportunity to vote by mail, with uniform standards for all voters.
In The States
National Network on State Election Reform
In 2005, PFAW worked with other national organizations including the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Demos, the NAACP, SEIU and others to help launch the National Network on State Election Reform.
This Network serves as an information sharing and coordinating coalition of national organizations dedicated to working on federal and state electoral reform issues through the year.
In addition to the main Network, PFAW coordinates the Voter ID task force, which helps to monitor state voter ID efforts.
Find resources relating to the NNSER here.
Work on Voting Rights in the States
The Democracy Campaign is working across the country to ensure every American has fair and equal access to the polls. Click on the markers on this map to learn more about specific voting rights issues arising in your state.
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