John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-4
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2021-10-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Crimes against property
Due process and equal protection
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Federal-Indian relations
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Indian lands and resources rights
Intergovernmental relations
Judicial review and appeals
Jurisdiction and venue
Law enforcement administration and funding
Legal fees and court costs
Postal service
Racial and ethnic relations
Sex offenses
State and local government operations
User charges and fees
Violent crime
Voting rights

Summary:
action_date: 2021-10-05
text: 

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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: 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.
action_date: 2021-11-03
text: 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)
action_date: 2021-11-01
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7535)
action_date: 2021-11-01
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S7535)
action_date: 2021-10-06
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 143.
action_date: 2021-10-05
text: 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)
action_date: 2021-10-05
text: Introduced in Senate