Washington, D.C. — Today, senators introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, a transformative reform measure that would strengthen voting rights, stop partisan gerrymandering, and reduce the influence of big money in politics. This measure is moving forward thanks to the leadership of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and the bill’s co-sponsors—Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
In response, Ben Olinsky, senior vice president of Structural Reform and Government at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
The Freedom to Vote Act is a transformative bill that would go a long way toward protecting the right to vote and preserving our democracy. It contains many popular and much-needed provisions from the For the People Act, which passed the House earlier this year. This measure is a testament to Sen. Manchin’s commitment to making sure that our elections remain fair for everyone. His leadership—along with that of the bill’s co-sponsors and Senate leaders—will help make this much-needed legislation a priority for passage. Protecting voting rights should not be a partisan issue, and arcane Senate rules should not stand in the way of legislation that is critical at a time when states are restricting voting rights, especially for communities of color.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].