Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) became an original co-sponsor of the Freedom to Vote Act, H.R. 11.  The Freedom to Vote Act improves ballot box access for American voters, strengthens transparency in elections, and implements campaign finance reforms.

“The right to vote is foundational to our democratic system.  And our success as a democratic society depends on protecting it,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “State legislatures across the country, including in my own state of Texas, have made it harder to vote.  In particular, the Texas Legislature has take action to disenfranchise voters by taking over elections in Harris County.  The Freedom to Vote Act protects our right to vote, fortifies election security, brings transparency to our federal elections, and works to limit the influence of dark money in politics.  It is critical legislation to ensure that our government remains one of, by, and for the people.”

Specifically, H.R. 11 strengthens voting rights by:

• Expanding automatic voter registration and same-day registration;
• Making Election Day a public holiday;
• Restoring the right to vote in federal elections for formerly incarcerated individuals;
• Strengthening vote-by-mail, early voting, and ballot access; and
• Combatting voter intimidation and voter suppression, including the practice of purging voter rolls.

It builds trust in elections by:

• Protecting elections from foreign interference;
• Providing grants for states to upgrade voting systems and make cybersecurity improvements;
• Addressing partisan gerrymandering by creating independent commissions to draw voting districts in each state; and
• Promotes transparency by mandating the disclosure of dark money in politics and political advertising.

In the 117th Congress, Congresswoman Fletcher co-sponsored and voted for the For the People Act, H.R. 1, to support historic voting rights, anti-corruption, and ethics reform legislation.  She also became an original co-sponsor of and voted for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 4, which restores the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and restores federal oversight for states with a recent history of voter discrimination.  She is also a member of the Voting Rights Caucus.