Freedom to Vote Act

Congresswoman Valerie Foushee on her efforts to combat gun violence and strengthen fair elections

BY: - August 7, 2023

The dog days of summer and the traditional August congressional recess have both arrived, but that isn’t preventing some lawmakers from continuing to work hard on an array of important issues that confront the nation. One of those lawmakers is North Carolina Fourth District Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. Recently NC Newsline caught up with Foushee and […]

A voter shows identification to an election judge

National bill on voting standards pushed anew by Democrats in Congress

BY: - July 19, 2023

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats on Tuesday said they plan to again introduce a bill to set national voting standards in response to state legislatures passing strict voting laws. The bill, known in a previous Congress as the Freedom to Vote Act, would establish national standards for early voting, mail-in ballots and protection of poll workers […]

Voters line up at a polling place

NC Freedom to Vote Act would protect and improve our democracy

BY: - March 15, 2023

The freedom to vote has faced serious challenges in recent years. New voting restrictions, rampant disinformation, threats to voters and election officials, and even violent attempts to overturn election results have led to growing concern about the future of our democracy and election process.

Biden in State of the Union urges ‘unmistakable’ support for democracy in Ukraine

BY: - March 2, 2022

‘Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,’ Biden told a joint session of Congress WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address on Tuesday night to reassert America as a leading global voice for democracy and […]

U.S. Senate blocks change in the filibuster for voting rights bills

BY: - January 20, 2022

WASHINGTON — Every Republican in the U.S. Senate and two Democrats on Wednesday night rejected a proposed change in the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation, dealing a major blow to attempts in Congress to counter restrictive voting laws passed in the states. In a 48-52 vote, two Democrats — Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona […]

COMMENTARY

About the GOP’s historical amnesia on voting rights

BY: - January 14, 2022

If you get into an argument with a Republican about the GOP’s lamentable support for voting rights and its fractured relationship with Black Americans, it won’t be long before your rhetorical sparring partner bellows “Robert Byrd” at you and declares the argument over. The logic here, if it even can be called that, is that […]

Sinema won’t support changes in the Senate filibuster, in setback for voting rights

BY: - January 13, 2022

WASHINGTON — Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema on Thursday appeared to end a drive by Democrats to change the Senate’s filibuster rules and pass major voting rights legislation. Sinema said during a Senate floor speech that she believed any changes to the filibuster would continue to create political division, despite her concerns over a wave […]

Congressional Black Caucus calls for Senate action on voting rights

BY: - January 13, 2022

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Senate Democrats on Thursday to push for the swift passage of two voting rights bills, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are applying pressure for action as well. During a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, caucus Chair Joyce Beatty said that members […]

Democratic governors press U.S. Senate to act on voting rights legislation

BY: - December 13, 2021

Cooper, 16 others: “Free and fair elections are fundamental to the United States Constitution” WASHINGTON — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and 16 other Democratic governors are urging the U.S. Senate to pass two bills that aim to protect voting rights. Both measures need 60 votes to advance under Senate rules but have been stalled by […]

As U.S. Senate Republicans again stall voting rights legislation, advocates call for stronger protection

BY: - October 21, 2021

With opposition from U.S. Senate Republicans, Democrats again failed to meet the 60-votes threshold Wednesday needed to move the landmark “Freedom to Vote Act” along for debate. The bill would expand voter registration, including automatic voter registration and same-day registration, end partisan congressional redistricting, enhance voting by mail, require at least 15 days of early […]