[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3490-S3491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 1353. A bill to require States to automatically register eligible 
voters to vote in elections for Federal offices, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the right to vote is among the most sacred 
rights guaranteed by our Constitution. It forms the foundation for our 
democracy and inspires countless people across the world still striving 
for a meaningful opportunity to engage in the political process and 
shape their futures.
  My friend John Lewis has often said that ``the right to vote is the 
most powerful nonviolent tool we have in a democracy.'' I could not 
agree more with him. America is a stronger and greater country when 
more Americans participate in our democracy. We are better when our 
citizens hold their elected representatives accountable and voice their 
opinions on the critical issues facing our Nation. We can take a 
historic step to foster even greater participation in our democracy 
simply by modernizing the way Americans register to vote.
  Today, I am proud to introduce the Automatic Voter Registration Act 
of 2017. This bill would require States to automatically register 
citizens who are eligible to vote when they interact with State and 
Federal agencies. Americans would have the option of declining 
automatic registration, but this bill would provide for a registration 
process that is easier for our citizens and one that is more efficient 
and accurate.
  The bill I introduce today streamlines 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 one can be unfairly penalized for 
inadvertent registration, and punishment is limited to cases of 
intentional registration fraud or illegal voting. This bill also 
includes important privacy protections and makes clear that the 
information used to automatically register individuals will remain 
secure. These are commonsense reforms that would not only help 
Americans vote but also help maintain accurate and up-to-date voter 
registration rolls.
  Last year, Vermont became one of the States leading the country on 
improving our citizens' access to the ballot by becoming one of just 
eight States to approve automatic voter registration. I want to commend 
Vermont secretary of state Jim Condos for his outstanding work on this 
issue and for the people of Vermont.
  State election officials estimate that tens of thousands of 
Vermonters will now be registered to vote because of this new law. 
Implementing these types of reforms nationwide will make America 
stronger and increase participation of a broader electorate. A recent 
study by the Center for American Progress on Oregon's automatic voter 
registration law that went into effect in January 2016 found that more 
than 272,000 people were added to voter rolls, and 98,000 of them were 
new voters in the November 2016 Presidential election. That is a 
remarkable success story, and hopefully other State legislatures will 
take notice. The Brennan Center for Justice, which has been a leading 
voice protecting Americans' right to vote, concluded in a 2015 report 
that a comprehensive, nationwide automatic voter registration plan has 
the potential to increase voter registration by 50 million eligible 
voters. This would not only save money and increase accuracy, but it 
would also reduce the potential for fraud and protect the integrity of 
our elections.
  I would like to thank the Brennan Center for Justice for its work on 
this issue and for working with me on this bill. I would also like to 
thank Senators Durbin and Klobuchar for joining me as original 
cosponsors. Congressman Brady of Pennsylvania, the ranking member on 
the House Committee on House Administration, has been a leader on this 
issue and has introduced a House companion bill.
  All members of Congress should support this legislation. We should 
all

[[Page S3491]]

strive to make sure that our constituents have access to the ballot box 
and are able to have their voices heard. This is of course just one 
reform we must make to ensure that our citizens' voting rights are 
protected. In the coming weeks, I intend to reintroduce legislation to 
restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. It has now been 
almost 4 years since the Supreme Court's devastating decision in Shelby 
County v. Holder, and we have seen the effect of that disastrous ruling 
as States have attempted to enact discriminatory voter ID laws and 
other measures intended to prevent minority voters from going to the 
polls. That is disgraceful, and we must do better. Congress must act to 
ensure that millions of Americans are not disenfranchised.
  The right to vote should not be a partisan issue. It is a right that 
forms the basis of our democracy, and it is incumbent on all Americans, 
Democratic and Republican, to ensure that no American's right to vote 
is infringed. Modernizing our voter registration system is one 
significant step forward.
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