[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5168-S5169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 3252. A bill to require States to automatically register eligible 
voters to vote in elections for Federal office, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, my friend John Lewis often says that ``the 
right to vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a 
democracy.'' I could not agree more with him. We are a better and more 
representative Nation when more Americans participate in our democracy, 
and we can help foster greater participation by modernizing the way we 
register our voters.
  That is why today, I am introducing the Automatic Voter Registration 
Act of 2016, a bill to require states to automatically register 
citizens who are eligible to vote by working with State and Federal 
agencies. Individuals have the option of declining automatic 
registration, but this bill would provide for a registration process 
that is more efficient and accurate. Importantly, the information used 
by the agencies to automatically register individuals will remain 
private and secure, and can only be used for voter registration, 
election administration, or prosecution of election crimes.
  The bill also takes steps to streamline the voter registration 
process, by providing for online registration and greater portability 
of registration when an individual moves to a different location in the 
same state. Under this bill, no individual can be unfairly penalized 
for inadvertent registration, and punishment is preserved only in cases 
of intentional registration fraud or illegal voting. These are all 
common sense measures that would make it easier for Americans to 
maintain accurate voter registration information, and they further help 
to ensure that our voter rolls are current and up-to-date.
  My efforts in trying to extend automatic registration to every State 
is consistent with efforts in Vermont, which became just the fourth 
State to pass an automatic voter registration bill this past April. The 
State of Vermont and its superb Secretary of State--Jim Condos--have 
been leaders in improving access to the ballot box. I cannot offer 
enough praise for what they have done.
  State election officials have estimated that Vermont could add 30,000 
to 50,000 voters to the State's rolls when its new automatic voter 
registration law takes effect after the 2016 election. Now imagine if 
we can provide similar improvements to the registration rolls for every 
State in this great Nation. Our union can only become stronger and more 
representative with the participation of a broader electorate. 
According to a report from the Brennan Center released in September 
2015, a comprehensive automatic voter registration plan could 
potentially add up to 50 million eligible voters to the rolls. 
Moreover, not only would it save money and increase accuracy, but it 
would also reduce the potential for fraud and protect the integrity of 
our elections.
  There is no reason why every eligible citizen cannot have the option 
of automatic registration when they visit the DMV, sign up for 
healthcare, or sign up for classes in college. These are just some of 
the agencies or institutions that would work with the States to provide 
for automatic voter registration. We live in a modern world, and we

[[Page S5169]]

should strive to have a registration system that reflects that.
  I would like to thank the Brennan Center for Justice for working so 
closely with me and my staff on this bill. I would also like to thank 
Senators Klobuchar and Durbin for joining me in introducing this bill. 
A House companion bill is being introduced by Congressman Brady of 
Pennsylvania, the Ranking Member on the House Committee on House 
Administration. I am proud to join all of these individuals in fighting 
to increase access to the ballot box for all Americans.
  The Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2016 is common sense 
legislation that all members of Congress should be able to support. 
However, this bill is part of a larger set of voting reforms that we 
must take on without further delay. We cannot talk about voting without 
mentioning the fact that this will be the first presidential election 
where the American people will be without the full protections of the 
Voting Rights Act since its original passage. It has now been more than 
three years since the Supreme Court's devastating decision in Shelby 
County v. Holder.
  In that case, five justices severely weakened the Federal 
government's ability to prevent racial discriminatory voting changes 
from taking effect before those changes occur. The ruling's impact on 
voters across the country has been even worse than imagined. Before the 
ink dried on the Court's opinion, elected officials in several states 
rushed to exploit the decision by enacting voting laws that 
disproportionately prevent or discourage minorities from voting. 
According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 17 states have 
passed new voter restriction laws for the 2016 election. Millions of 
voters risk being disenfranchised for this election, and yet, this 
Republican majority--in both the House and the Senate--refuses to even 
hold a hearing on the issue.
  The fundamental right to vote is too important for partisan politics. 
We must restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act to ensure 
that no American's right to vote is infringed, and we must implement an 
automatic voter registration system to ensure that every American who 
wishes to vote is able to do so. This is an issue that cannot wait. It 
is long past time for Congress to respond with action.
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