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Rep. Sharice Davids Introduces Bill to Expand and Protect Voting Rights

March 5, 2019

Rep. Sharice Davids today introduced The Count the Vote Act to expand and protect voting rights by giving people the right to petition the Department of Justice to investigate voting complaints.

"Voting is the very foundation of our democracy, and we need to ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to participate in our country's democratic process," said Davids. "Kansans have experienced repeated instances of voter disenfranchisement – from laws pushed by Kris Kobach intended to make it harder for people to vote, to polling places being moved a mile out of town. It's time we put an end to these tactics in our state and across the country. I'm proud to introduce legislation to aid in that effort."

The bill mandates that the U.S. Attorney General create and maintain a system for these complaints, ensuring that all citizens who are blocked at the polls can have their cases heard.

"Our republic is based on the promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," said Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, a Dodge City resident who has been an outspoken advocate of voting rights. "That only holds true when the most fundamental check on our elected officials is upheld for everyone, regardless of their zip code or who they are. The federal government has a crucial role in ensuring that all eligible citizens have an opportunity to participate in our democracy and it's incredible for Kansas to have someone fighting for an issue that affects everyone."

The legislation is also included in the For the People Act (H.R. 1), a sweeping package of reforms that will change the balance of power in Washington and put the American people back in charge of our democracy by ending the dominance of big money in politics, expanding and protecting the right to vote, and ensuring our officials are working in the public interest.

"It's critical to our democracy that every eligible voter has access to the ballot and can trust that when they cast their vote, it will be counted and protected. We applaud Rep. Davids for her continued leadership in bringing real reform to Washington and defending the right of all Americans to be heard in our political system," said Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United Action Fund.