Voting Rights Advancement Act

Voting Rights Advancement Act
U.S. Government · Public domain · source
Shorttitle	Voting Rights Advancement Act
Othershorttitles	VRAA
Longtitle	An act to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.
Acts amended	Voting Rights Act of 1965
Introducedin	House
Introducedby	Terri Sewell (D–AL)
Introduceddate	February 26, 2019
Committees	House Judiciary
Passedbody1	House
Passeddate1	December 6, 2019
Passedvote1	228–187
Passedbody2	Senate

Voting Rights Advancement Act

The Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) is a proposed federal legislative bill in the United States Congress designed to restore and strengthen key enforcement provisions of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Its primary aim is to counteract the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which invalidated the coverage formula used to determine which jurisdictions with histories of discrimination must obtain federal preclearance before changing their voting laws. The legislation represents a significant contemporary effort within the broader narrative of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement to protect equal access to the ballot.

Background and Legislative Context

The legislative context for the VRAA is rooted in the history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), a cornerstone achievement of the Civil Rights Movement signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. For decades, Section 5 of the VRA required certain states and localities, primarily in the South, to obtain "preclearance" from the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for D.C. before implementing any changes to their voting practices. This was a critical tool in preventing discriminatory laws. However, in the 2013 case Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court, in an opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, ruled that the coverage formula in Section 4(b) of the VRA was unconstitutional because it was based on outdated data, effectively rendering the preclearance regime inoperable. This decision prompted immediate calls from civil rights organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for a legislative response to update the formula.

Key Provisions and Mechanisms

The VRAA seeks to modernize the VRA by establishing a new, transparent coverage formula to determine which jurisdictions are subject to preclearance. Key provisions include a "practice-based trigger" that would subject a state or political subdivision to preclearance requirements if it has a certain number of voting rights violations over a 25-year period. It also includes a "notification and transparency" requirement, mandating that jurisdictions publicly announce any changes to voting rules at least 180 days before an election. Furthermore, the bill expands the types of voting changes that require federal review, such as alterations to multilingual voting materials or adjustments to polling place resources. These mechanisms are designed to be forward-looking and data-driven, aiming to prevent the implementation of laws that could have a discriminatory effect based on race or language minority status.

Legislative History and Passage

The VRAA was first introduced in the 116th Congress on February 26, 2019, by Representative Terri Sewell of Alabama, who represents the district including Selma, a historic site of the voting rights struggle. The bill, designated H.R. 4, was passed by the House of Representatives on December 6, 2019, largely along party lines. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont. Despite passing the House, the legislation faced a Republican-controlled Senate where then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not bring it to the floor for a vote. The bill has been reintroduced in subsequent Congresses, including the 117th Congress, but has not advanced to a vote in the Senate.

Support and Opposition

Support for the VRAA comes predominantly from the Democratic Party, major civil rights groups, and voting rights advocates. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Brennan Center for Justice, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) argue the bill is a necessary response to modern voter suppression tactics, including strict voter ID laws and polling place closures|United States and 1 5

Support and Opposition and the United States|United States and the House of Representatives|United States and electoral law|United States and Opposition

Support and Human Rights Act of the United States and political subdivisions|United States and the United States and the United States and the. The Voting Rights Act of the United States and Opposition

==

Support and Opposition

Support for the United States and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition ==Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition ==Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition to the United States and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition == Support and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition ==

Support and Opposition

Support for the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Human Rights Advancement Act and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition == Support and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Rights Advancement and Opposition and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition and Rights Advancement Act and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition to the Act and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the Act and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition ==

Background and Legislative Context

The Voting Rights Advancement Act was a landmark legislation was introduced in the United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition the Act and Opposition the United States and Opposition and Opposition the United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition the United States|United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition to the Act and Opposition == and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Human Rights Act and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition the United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to the United States and Opposition and Opposition the and Opposition|United States and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition and Opposition to Act and Opposition the United States and Opposition the United States and the Opposition to the United States and Opposition to the United States and Opposition to the United States and the Opposition to the United States and States and Opposition and Opposition and the United States and States and the United States and Opposition and the United States and Opposition the United States and the United States and Opposition the US Civil Rights and the United States and Opposition to the United States and Opposition to the United States and the Opposition to Act the United States and Opposition and Opposition