Voting Rights | Page 2 | The Office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

Voting Rights

Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and embraced false conspiracy theories that undermine public confidence in our voting systems. Democrats are determined to continue advancing the cause of voting rights and conducting oversight to ensure that misleading information does not deter Americans from participating in our democracy and having confidence in the results of our free and fair elections.

Every election, Americans head to the polls to exercise their most fundamental right – the right to vote. Unfortunately, Republicans at the state and federal levels have engaged in an unprecedented attack on voting rights and embraced false conspiracy theories that undermine public confidence in our voting systems. Democrats are determined to continue advancing the cause of voting rights and conducting oversight to ensure that misleading information does not deter Americans from participating in our democracy and having confidence in the results of our free and fair elections.

Last Congress, Democrats in the House passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the voting rights protections struck down by the Supreme Court in the flawed Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder. In 2019, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which makes it easier for Americans to exercise their right to vote.

In the 117^th Congress, Democrats will work with the Biden Administration to see these measures enacted into law, and continue pushing for reforms that make it easier for eligible Americans to cast their ballots and ensure that their votes are counted accurately.

Voting Rights Related

200 Days of Fighting For The People

Sunday marked 200 days of a Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives, and in that time, Democrats have made significant progress on behalf of the American people. Democrats have spent the past 200 days advancing our For the People agenda: taking action to lower health care costs and the price of prescription drugs, raise wages, and clean up corruption. Take a look at how Democrats have made progress For the People:

7/24/19

Leader's Report

House Democrats Pass Legislation to Secure Our Elections and Defend Our Democracy

This week, the House continued its work to fund the government. We have now passed ten of the twelve appropriations bills for the Fiscal Year 2020, which fund 96% of the government.

6/28/19

Hoyer Statement on the SAFE Act

I was proud to bring the SAFE Act to the Floor today, and now that the House has passed it, I urge the Senate to do the same. As we look ahead to the 2020 federal election, Congress and the Administration have a responsibility to ensure that every American’s right to vote will be protected and that our voting systems are safe from foreign cyberattacks.

6/27/19

Hoyer Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Partisan Redistricting

Today’s Supreme Court decision only further highlights the need for national, comprehensive redistricting reform.

6/27/19

Hoyer Statement on Amicus Brief in DC Voting Rights Case

Yesterday, the Democratic-led House joined an amicus brief in support of residents of the District of Columbia seeking recognition of their fundamental right to Congressional representation.

6/11/19

Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference with House and Senate Democrats to Introduce H.R. 4, The Voting Rights Advancement Act

[Justice] Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the Shelby v. Holder case said that the Majority’s opinion was like having an umbrella, and because they weren’t getting wet, they took it down.

2/26/19

Hoyer Statement on Senate Confirmation of Members of the Election Assistance Commission

I am glad that the Senate has finally confirmed the remaining members of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), enabling it to carry out its critical work at full capacity.

1/4/19

Hoyer Remarks on Press Call on H.R. 1

Well, Tiffany, thank you very, very much for all you’ve done and your leadership of End Citizens United and End Citizens United Action Fund, which has made such a real difference in heightening consciousness about the need to deal with the culture of corruption that has existed here in Washington and the dark money that has so undermined our politics.

12/6/18

Hoyer Statement on National Voter Registration Day

The right to vote is the foundation of our system of democratic government, and on National Voter Registration Day I urge every American to exercise that right.

9/25/18

Op-Ed

Hoyer Op-Ed: "Congress Must Not Ignore the ‘Flashing Red Light’ on Election Security"

Wanted to be sure you saw this op-ed by Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) in The Hill today. In light of the latest warnings of foreign interference in the midterms, Whip Hoyer calls on the Republican-led Congress to take action now to protect our elections and provide states with the necessary resources to secure their election infrastructure. To read the op-ed, click here or see below:

THE HILL

8/7/18

Hoyer Statement on the 150th Anniversary of the Fourteenth Amendment

A century and a half ago, after the great struggle to end the evil of slavery, Congress and the states ratified the Fourteenth Amendment, enshrining into our Constitution the principle that all Americans are entitled to equal protection under our laws.

7/9/18

Hoyer Statement on SCOTUS Ruling Allowing Voters to be Purged from Ohio Voter Rolls

I am very disappointed by today’s ruling in Husted v. APRI.

6/11/18

Hoyer, Raskin Discuss the Importance of Protecting Election Infrastructure

Earlier this week, at an election security forum hosted by Committee on House Administration member Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and special guest Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), members of the public heard from election security experts and public officials about the safety of our election infrastructure headed into the 2018 midterm elections.

5/24/18

Hoyer Statement on Democrats' Unveiling of A Better Deal for Our Democracy

Americans deserve to have a government that works for them, one that is transparent and trustworthy, one that can be a force for good in their lives.

5/21/18

Hoyer Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the National Voter Registration Act

On Sunday, we mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the enactment of the National Voter Registration Act, of which I was proud to be an original cosponsor.

5/18/18

CORRECTION: Hoyer, Raskin Tour Election Assistance Commission, Announce Upcoming Election Security Forum

Following their visit to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland yesterday, Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), announced plans for a public forum on election security in Rockville, Maryland on May 22nd. Raskin serves on the Committee on House Administration, which oversees the EAC.

5/11/18

Op-Ed

Hoyer, Khanna Op-ed in the Baltimore Sun: Fifty Years Later, King’s Vision Must Remain Congress’ Cause

Wanted to be sure you saw this op-ed by Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) that will run in tomorrow's Baltimore Sun.

4/2/18

Hoyer Statement on Election Security Task Force Final Report

This report could not have come at a more important time. With Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats’s testimony in the Senate yesterday that Russia intends to target the 2018 midterm elections, it is imperative that Congress take steps not only to identify vulnerabilities in voting systems but address them.

2/14/18

Hoyer Statement on the Dissolution of President Trump's “Election Integrity” Commission

This commission to suppress the vote should never have been created in the first place. It found no fraud because there had been no fraud, and it should not be revived by the Department of Homeland Security.

1/4/18

Op-Ed

Huffington Post Op-Ed: Eliminating the Election Assistance Commission Would Put Americans’ Votes in Danger

This past weekend, hackers gathered in Las Vegas with a simple mission: break into America’s electronic voting machines and take control. Within minutes, some had already succeeded – but that’s a good thing.

8/2/17

Hoyer Statement on First Meeting of President Trump's Voter Commission

Today’s convening of President Trump’s new commission to suppress the vote represents a new low in Republicans’ partisan efforts to endanger Americans’ most fundamental right to participate equally in our democracy.

7/19/17

Hoyer, Brady Statement on Appropriations Committee’s Proposal to Terminate the Election Assistance Commission

The Appropriations Committee’s proposal to terminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is reckless and irresponsible.

6/29/17

Lewis, Hoyer, Clyburn, Conyers and Brady Reintroduce Voter Empowerment Act

The struggle for voting access in America has been long and storied. It is not a right assured to every citizen.

6/23/17

Hoyer Remarks at Voting Rights Speak Out to Introduce the Voting Rights Advancement Act

Thank you very much. Some years ago, when the Republicans were in charge of Congress, I sponsored the Help America Vote Act as a result of the challenge that we had in Florida, and the 5 people elected the President of the United States, making the determination.

6/22/17