Brady Joins House & Senate Democrats to Reintroduce Comprehensive Voting Rights Bill
Washington, D.C. (January 23, 2013) – Today, on the anniversary of the 24th Amendment, which banned the discriminatory practice of the poll tax, Committee on House Administration Ranking Member, Robert Brady, joined with House Democratic colleagues Rep. John Lewis (GA-5), House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5), Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (SC-6), and Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), to reintroduce the Voter Empowerment Act (VEA) in the House of Representatives.
First introduced in the 112th Congress, The VEA modernizes voter registration, ensures equal and timely access to the ballot box for all Americans, and prohibits deceptive practices and voter fraud that keep people from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
Speaking about the bill, Ranking Member Brady Said, “We're committed to strengthening our democracy and ensuring no eligible voter is ever denied the opportunity to cast a ballot. Disfranchisement, for any reason, is an affront to our process and cannot be tolerated."
The VEA was intended to ensure voter equality as numerous state legislatures passed unprecedented laws that would erect barriers to voting for military, disabled, minority, young, elderly and low-income Americans.
The long lines, frustration, and confusion at polling places in the 2012 election underscores the need for the Voter Empowerment Act.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York introduced a companion version of the bill in the Senate.
Click for a section by section description, fact sheet, quotes in support, or full bill text of the Voter Empowerment Act.