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Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2019

USA116th CongressHR-1799| House 
| Updated: 5/3/2019
F. James Sensenbrenner

F. James Sensenbrenner

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (20)
John Katko (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Fred Upton (Republican)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Will Hurd (Republican)Mark Takano (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.) A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if five or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 15 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if, in the previous 15 years (1) three or more voting rights violations occurred there, or (2) one or more voting rights violations occurred there and the subdivision had minority voter turnout below certain thresholds. A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance. The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.
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Timeline
Mar 14, 2019
Introduced in House
Mar 14, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 3, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • March 14, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • March 14, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 3, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 116-561: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
  • HR 116-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
  • S 116-4263: John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Civil actions and liabilityElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal appellate courtsForeign language and bilingual programsJurisdiction and venueRacial and ethnic relationsState and local government operationsVoting rights

Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2019

USA116th CongressHR-1799| House 
| Updated: 5/3/2019
Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.) A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if five or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 15 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if, in the previous 15 years (1) three or more voting rights violations occurred there, or (2) one or more voting rights violations occurred there and the subdivision had minority voter turnout below certain thresholds. A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance. The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 14, 2019
Introduced in House
Mar 14, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
May 3, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
  • March 14, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • March 14, 2019
    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 3, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.
F. James Sensenbrenner

F. James Sensenbrenner

Republican Representative

Wisconsin

Cosponsors (20)
John Katko (Republican)Tom Cole (Republican)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Fred Upton (Republican)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Will Hurd (Republican)Mark Takano (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Michael R. Turner (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee, Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • S 116-561: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
  • HR 116-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
  • S 116-4263: John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal appellate courtsForeign language and bilingual programsJurisdiction and venueRacial and ethnic relationsState and local government operationsVoting rights