[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 268 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 268

Recognizing September 26, 2017, as ``National Voter Registration Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 26, 2017

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following 
     resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing September 26, 2017, as ``National Voter Registration Day''.

Whereas the right to vote is a fundamental right that--

    (1) is guaranteed to the people of the United States; and

    (2) constitutes the core of the democracy of the United States;

Whereas countless people of the United States have struggled to obtain and 
        protect the right to vote;
Whereas each eligible United States citizen who would like to vote should be 
        able to do so without encountering unnecessary barriers to the ballot 
        box;
Whereas eligible United States citizens who are 18 years of age or older have 
        the legal rights--

    (1) to register to vote; and

    (2) to vote;

Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates that over 20 percent of eligible 
        United States citizens are not registered to vote;
Whereas many United States citizens are not aware that they must register to 
        vote before they may cast a ballot;
Whereas, because United States citizens must register in order to vote, many 
        political campaigns, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, 
        and other groups conduct voter registration drives;
Whereas despite the efforts to register United States citizens to vote, the Pew 
        Charitable Trusts have found that more than 60 percent of adult United 
        States citizens have never been asked to register to vote;
Whereas, while some States allow same-day voter registration, many other States 
        require registration as many as 30 days before the date of the election 
        in which a person seeks to vote;
Whereas if a voter has changed names, moved, or not voted in recent elections, 
        the voter registration of the voter must be updated;
Whereas 1 of 9 United States citizens moves each year, rendering outdated the 
        former voter registration of the individuals who have moved;
Whereas updating voter registration ensures an easier experience at the polls on 
        election day;
Whereas increased voter registration may lead to a higher participation rate in 
        elections, which would strengthen the democracy of the United States; 
        and
Whereas the many organizations and individuals who encourage voter registration 
        and civic participation have promoted National Voter Registration Day on 
        the fourth Tuesday of each September, which in 2017 falls on Tuesday, 
        September 26: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes September 26, 2017, as ``National Voter 
        Registration Day''; and
            (2) encourages each voting-eligible citizen of the United 
        States--
                    (A) to register to vote;
                    (B) to verify with the appropriate State or local 
                election official that the name, address, and other 
                personal information on record is current; and
                    (C) to go to the polls on election day and vote if 
                the voting-eligible citizen would like to do so.
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