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Bill116th CongressFiled Feb 26, 2019Government Operations and Politics
H.R. 4

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

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What it doesSummary passed house (Dec 6, 2019)

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.)

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one 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.

A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance.

All jurisdictions must preclear changes to requirements for documentation to vote that make the requirements more stringent than federal requirements for voters who register by mail or state law.

The bill specifies practices jurisdictions meeting certain thresholds regarding racial minority groups, language minority groups, or minority groups on Indian land, must preclear before implementing. These practices include changes to methods of election, changes to jurisdiction boundaries, redistricting, changes to voting locations and opportunities, and changes to voter registration list maintenance.

The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers.

States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.

What just happenedJul 27, 2020

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 107, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4 have been made.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7](D-AL)Sponsor
229 cosponsors229 D
Read on Congress.gov
229cosponsors2committees26actions1amendments5related bills7subjects
  1. Jul 27, 2020FloorH1B000

    Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 107, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4 have been made.

  2. Dec 9, 2019IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  3. Dec 6, 2019FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  4. Dec 6, 2019FloorH37100

    On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 187 (Roll no. 654). (text: CR H9308-9312)

  5. Dec 6, 2019Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 187 (Roll no. 654).(text: CR H9308-9312)

  6. Dec 6, 2019FloorH36110

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 200 - 215 (Roll no. 653).

    Judiciary Committee
  7. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8A000

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  8. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rodney Davis (IL) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting a new section entitled rule of construction which states that nothing in this Act may be construed to allow fines or other amounts paid to the United States in connection with a violation of title I of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 including any amount paid pursuant to a settlement agreement, to be used to make a payment in support of a campaign for election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

  9. Dec 6, 2019FloorH36100

    Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H9331)

    Judiciary Committee
  10. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8D000

    Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX proceedings on H.R. 4 resumed. (consideration: CR H9331-9334)

  11. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8D000

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair postponed further proceedings on H.R. 4.

  12. Dec 6, 2019FloorH35000

    The previous question was ordered without objection.

  13. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4.

  14. Dec 6, 2019FloorH8D000

    The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Res. 326 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. The rule provides that the amendments to H. Res. 326 and preamble, modified by the amendments in Part B of the report are considered as adopted.

  15. Dec 6, 2019FloorH30000

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 741. (consideration: CR H9308-9330)

  16. Dec 4, 2019FloorH1L210

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 741 Reported to House. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Res. 326 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. The rule provides that the amendments to H. Res. 326 and preamble, modified by the amendments in Part B of the report are considered as adopted.

  17. Nov 29, 2019CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 258.

  18. Nov 29, 2019CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-317.

    Judiciary Committee
  19. Nov 29, 2019Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-317.

    Judiciary Committee
  20. Oct 23, 2019Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  21. Oct 23, 2019Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 6.

    Judiciary Committee
  22. Oct 22, 2019Committee

    Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Discharged.

    Judiciary Committee
  23. Mar 25, 2019Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

    Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee
  24. Feb 26, 2019IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  25. Feb 26, 2019IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  26. Feb 26, 2019IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed HouseDec 6, 201953

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.)

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one 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.

A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance.

All jurisdictions must preclear changes to requirements for documentation to vote that make the requirements more stringent than federal requirements for voters who register by mail or state law.

The bill specifies practices jurisdictions meeting certain thresholds regarding racial minority groups, language minority groups, or minority groups on Indian land, must preclear before implementing. These practices include changes to methods of election, changes to jurisdiction boundaries, redistricting, changes to voting locations and opportunities, and changes to voter registration list maintenance.

The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers.

States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.

Reported to HouseNov 29, 20197

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.)

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one 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.

A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance.

The bill specifies practices that all jurisdictions must preclear before implementing.

The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers.

States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.

Introduced in HouseFeb 26, 2019

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.)

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one 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.

A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance.

The bill specifies practices that all jurisdictions must preclear before implementing.

The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers.

States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 — Informed