[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  INTRODUCTION OF THE VOTE AT HOME ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2023

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, Oregon has led the nation in defending 
the right to vote, which is the very cornerstone of our democracy. Vote 
at home laws have been extremely successful at increasing voter turnout 
all while upholding strong security standards. That is why today I 
introduced the Vote at Home Act.
  This legislation will bring Oregon's model nationwide and strengthen 
the fundamental right to vote that is so central to our democratic 
process. Nearly 50 percent of voters used a vote-at-home ballot in the 
November 2020 election, an all-time high in federal races. It is time 
to build on the innovative electoral reforms expanding access to the 
right to vote.
  The Vote at Home Act updates the Vote by Mail Act, which I first 
introduced with Senator Wyden in 2017, to promote the ability of voters 
to vote by mail, expand options for casting ballots, fund the U.S. 
Postal Service by covering the costs associated with mailing ballots 
both to and from voters in federal elections, and enact automatic voter 
registration. Under this legislation, all registered voters would 
receive ballots in the mail weeks before Election Day, allowing them to 
carefully research candidates and issues ahead of Election Day to 
inform their vote. States would be required to ensure that each citizen 
who provides identifying information to the state motor vehicle 
authority is automatically registered to vote. Voters are given 21 days 
to opt out if they do not wish to be registered to vote.
  This crucial legislation is a nation-wide effort and is endorsed by 
voting rights groups including Common Cause, Fair Fight Action, Demand 
Progress, End Citizens United, Sojourners, Stand Up America, and People 
for the American Way.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to enact 
this legislation and finally establish access to voting at home 
nationwide.

                          ____________________