Legis Daily

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-4| Senate 
| Updated: 11/3/2021
Patrick J. Leahy

Patrick J. Leahy

Democratic Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (48)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. The bill also includes provisions related to federally protected activities at polling places and voting access on tribal lands. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least 1 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 three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as changes to methods of election and redistricting. Further, states and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. Next, the bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill also outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision. In addition, the bill (1) includes certain protections for election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure; and (2) expands voting access on tribal lands.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4263
John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Sep 14, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4
Received in the Senate.
Oct 5, 2021
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6916)
Oct 5, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Oct 6, 2021
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.
Nov 1, 2021
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7535)
Nov 1, 2021
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7535)
Nov 3, 2021
Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 459) entered in Senate.
Nov 3, 2021
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 459. (CR S7701)
View Vote
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4263
    John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act


  • September 14, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4
    Received in the Senate.


  • October 5, 2021
    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6916)


  • October 5, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 6, 2021
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.


  • November 1, 2021
    Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7535)


  • November 1, 2021
    Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7535)


  • November 3, 2021
    Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 459) entered in Senate.


  • November 3, 2021
    Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 459. (CR S7701)
    View Vote

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-5746: NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2021
  • S 117-2928: Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act
  • S 117-2702: Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021
  • HR 117-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
  • HR 117-5008: Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021
Alaska Natives and HawaiiansAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCrimes against propertyDue process and equal protectionElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal-Indian relationsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIndian lands and resources rightsIntergovernmental relationsJudicial review and appealsJurisdiction and venueLaw enforcement administration and fundingLegal fees and court costsPostal serviceRacial and ethnic relationsSex offensesState and local government operationsUser charges and feesViolent crimeVoting rights

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

USA117th CongressS-4| Senate 
| Updated: 11/3/2021
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights. The bill also includes provisions related to federally protected activities at polling places and voting access on tribal lands. A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least 1 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 three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as changes to methods of election and redistricting. Further, states and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. Next, the bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights. The bill also outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision. In addition, the bill (1) includes certain protections for election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure; and (2) expands voting access on tribal lands.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4263
John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Sep 14, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-4
Received in the Senate.
Oct 5, 2021
Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6916)
Oct 5, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Oct 6, 2021
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.
Nov 1, 2021
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7535)
Nov 1, 2021
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7535)
Nov 3, 2021
Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 459) entered in Senate.
Nov 3, 2021
Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 459. (CR S7701)
View Vote
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4263
    John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act


  • September 14, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-4
    Received in the Senate.


  • October 5, 2021
    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6916)


  • October 5, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 6, 2021
    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.


  • November 1, 2021
    Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7535)


  • November 1, 2021
    Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7535)


  • November 3, 2021
    Motion by Senator Schumer to reconsider the vote by which cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4 was not invoked (Record Vote No. 459) entered in Senate.


  • November 3, 2021
    Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 459. (CR S7701)
    View Vote
Patrick J. Leahy

Patrick J. Leahy

Democratic Senator

Vermont

Cosponsors (48)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Government Operations and Politics

Related Bills

  • HR 117-5746: NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2021
  • S 117-2928: Election Worker and Polling Place Protection Act
  • S 117-2702: Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021
  • HR 117-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
  • HR 117-5008: Frank Harrison, Elizabeth Peratrovich, and Miguel Trujillo Native American Voting Rights Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Alaska Natives and HawaiiansAssault and harassment offensesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCrimes against propertyDue process and equal protectionElections, voting, political campaign regulationFederal-Indian relationsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIndian lands and resources rightsIntergovernmental relationsJudicial review and appealsJurisdiction and venueLaw enforcement administration and fundingLegal fees and court costsPostal serviceRacial and ethnic relationsSex offensesState and local government operationsUser charges and feesViolent crimeVoting rights