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Congressional Voting Rights Caucus

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CVRC One Pager Header

Congressional Voting Rights Caucus

Established May 2016

Mission Statement:

The Congressional Voting Rights Caucus is committed to educating members of public on the various voter suppression tactics enacted by states since the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act in its 2013 Shelby v. Holder decision. There is overwhelming evidence that these laws disproportionately affect low-income populations and communities of color and the need to protect traditionally disenfranchised voters is overdue.

The Caucus will work to help educate the public about their rights as voters, advance legislation that blocks current and future suppression tactics, and brainstorm creative ways to bring our election process into the 21st Century.

Leadership:

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Official Photo  Rep Marc Veasey

Co-Chair, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33)

 

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Co  Chair Rep. Terri Sewell

Co-Chair, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-7)

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Congressman Bobby Scott

Co-Chair, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3)

 

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Congressman John Lewis, Co  Chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus

Co-Chair, Congressman John Lewis (GA-5)

Vice Chairs:
• Congressman G.K. Butterfield
• Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
• Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
• Congressman Rick Larsen
• Congressman David Cicilline
• Congressman John Conyers

Deputy Vice Chairs:
• Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
• Congressman Raul Grijalva
• Congressman Elijah Cummings
• Congressman Joaquin Castro
• Congresswoman Barbara Lee
• Congressman Matt Cartwright
• Congressman Al Green
• Congressman Hank Johnson
• Congresswoman Judy Chu
• Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D.

Advisory Council:
• Congressman Cedric Richmond
• Congressman Jared Polis

Members: • Congressman Adam Smith
• Congressman Alcee Hastings
• Congressman André Carson
• Congressman Ben Ray Luján
• Congressman Bennie Thompson
• Congressman Bill Foster
• Congressman Bobby Scott
• Congressman Brian Higgins
• Congressman Charlie Rangel
• Congressman ChrisVan Hollen
• Congressman Dave Loebsack
• Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.
• Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.
• Congressman Gerald Connolly
• Congressman Gregory Meeks
• Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
• Congressman James McGovern
• Congressman Jared Huffman
• Congressman John Carney, Jr.
• Congressman John Yarmuth
• Congressman José Serrano
• Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy, III
• Congressman Juan Vargas
• Congressman Mark Pocan
• Congressman Mark Takano
• Congressman Patrick Murphy
• Congressman Paul Tonko
• Congressman Ruben Gallego
• Congressman Rubén Hinojosa
• Congressman Sander Levin
• Congressman Sanford Bishop
• Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney
• Congressman Ted Lieu
• Congressman Xavier Becerra
• Congresswoman Alma Adams
• Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman
• Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence
• Congresswoman Kathy Castor
• Congresswoman Corrine Brown
• Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
• Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
• Congresswoman Frederica Wilson
• Congresswoman Gwen Moore
• Congresswoman Kathleen Rice
• Congresswoman Louise Slaughter
• Congresswoman Marcia Fudge
• Congresswoman Maxine Waters
• Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham
• Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez
• Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici
• Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
• Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton

Endorsed Legislation:

The Congressional Voting Rights Caucus supports the following legislation in the 114th Congress for its efforts to restore access to the ballot box, modernize voting procedures, and protect the voting rights of all Americans:

H.R. 2867
Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL)
Summary: This bill amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to allow a representative official of an Indian tribe, with authorization from the governing body of the tribe, to request one or more polling places to be located on tribal lands. The state or political subdivision shall provide each requested polling place at no expense to the Indian tribe if certain criteria are met.

H.R. 5131
Verifying Optimal Tools for Elections or “VOTE” Act of 2016
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to make improvements to voting system technology, election official training, and protecting voting system source code.

H.R. 3364
America’s Vote Act of 2015
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to permit an individual required to present identification as a condition for voting in a federal election to meet the requirement by presenting the appropriate state or local election official with a sworn written statement, signed by the individual under penalty of perjury, attesting to the individual's identification and that he or she is registered to vote in the election. Allows an individual desiring to vote by mail to submit such a statement with the ballot.

H.R. 3277
Voter Access Protection Act of 2015
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state or local election official from requiring an individual to: (1) present a photo identification (or a copy if voting by mail) as a condition for receiving or casting a ballot in any election for federal office, or (2) cast a provisional ballot solely on the grounds that the individual does not present a photo identification at the polling place.

H.R. 3276
Same Day Registration Act of 2015
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states with a voter registration requirement to make same-day voter registration available at the polling place on the date of election itself (or on the day of voting under early voting).

H.R. 1618
Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2015
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit a state from imposing additional conditions or requirements on the eligibility of an individual to cast a vote in federal elections by mail, except to the extent that it imposes a deadline for requesting the ballot and returning it to the appropriate state or local election official.

H.R. 411
Streamlined and Improved Methods of Polling Locations and Early (SIMPLE) Voting Act of 2015
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)
Summary: This bill amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) to require each state to allow individuals to vote in a federal election on each day during the 15-day period ending on the second day immediately preceding the election date in the same manner as voting is allowed on election day.

H.R. 12
Voter Empowerment Act of 2015
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Summary: This bill amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) to require each state to make available official public websites for online voter registration. Authorizes automated voter registration of certain individuals and establishes other initiatives to promote voter registration, such as same day registration and voter registration of individuals under 18 years of age.

Supporting Organizations:

The following list highlights the growing number of organizations that share the goals of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus and remain engaged in anti-voter suppression efforts nationwide:

• Action North Carolina
• African American Policy Forum
• Color of Change
• Hip Hop Caucus
• Justice Action Mobilization Network
• LUCHA
• Michael Hersh of Progressive Democrats of America
• MomsRising
• National Association of Black Social Workers
• National Election Defense Coalition
• National Organization for Women
• Rainbow PUSH Coalition
• Rev. William Barber of Repairers of the Breach
• Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Transformative Justice Coalition

For More Legislative Information:

Contact Nicole Varner in Congressman Veasey's Office at Nicole.Varner@mail.house.gov or 202-225-9897.

For Press Related Inquiries:

Contact Paloma Perez at Paloma.Perez@mail.house.gov or 202-225-9897.