Freedom to Vote Act: Addressing Voter Access and Election Integrity

118th Congress (2023-2025)

Status: Introduced July 18, 2023

The Freedom to Vote Act is a comprehensive legislation addressing voter registration, voting access, election integrity, redistricting, and campaign finance. Introduced in the House of Representatives on July 18, 2023, the bill seeks to protect the rights of all eligible voters and enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

Key Provisions of the Freedom to Vote Act

Automatic Voter Registration: The bill establishes a system of automatic voter registration (AVR) for federal elections. Eligible citizens would be registered to vote when they interact with certain government agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Protection from Voter Suppression: The Freedom to Vote Act includes provisions to prevent voter suppression tactics, such as reducing early voting hours, restrictive voter ID laws, and purges of voter rolls.

Partisan Sabotage and Gerrymandering: The bill aims to limit partisan sabotage of elections by requiring states to use independent redistricting commissions and prohibiting partisan gerrymandering.

Dark Money Disclosure: The legislation requires organizations spending significant amounts on political advertising to disclose their donors, ensuring transparency in campaign finance.

Legislative History and Outlook

The Freedom to Vote Act was previously introduced in the 117th Congress but failed to pass due to a Senate cloture vote. It has been reintroduced in the 118th Congress and is currently under consideration by the House Committee on Rules.

The bill's passage would represent a significant step towards expanding voter access and protecting election integrity. By addressing the concerns of voter suppression, partisan sabotage, and dark money, the Freedom to Vote Act aims to strengthen American democracy and ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in the electoral process.