Gillibrand, Clyburn Reintroduce Legislation To Protect Voting Rights

Mar 25, 2026
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC-6) reintroduced bicameral legislation to modernize America’s voter registration system and protect voting rights. TheVoter Empowerment Act(VEA) would expand voter registration and voting access by requiring states to make online voter registration available, establish automatic voter registration systems, permit same-day voter registration, and accept voter registration applications from citizens under the age of 18.
“As Republicans across the country seek to pass voter suppression laws that will disenfranchise millions of voters, we must do more to make sure that voting is fair and accessible for all Americans,”said Senator Gillibrand.“TheVoter Empowerment Actis commonsense legislation to modernize voter registration and protect our elections from interference. I am proud to introduce it alongside my good friend Rep. Clyburn, and I am determined to get it passed.”
“The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. While it should be a sacred and affirmed right for every eligible American, unfettered access to the ballot box continues to be under attack across the country, including with the dangerousSAVE America Actthat Trump and MAGA Republicans are trying to ram through Congress,”said Congressman Clyburn.“Our democracy is only as strong as our ability to protect it. With President Trump openly boasting that the goal of theSAVE America Actis to guarantee election results regardless of the will of the voters, I urge my colleagues to join me in safeguarding the integrity of our elections.”
In recent years, many states have passed new voting restrictions, from limits on absentee ballots to onerous voter ID requirements. These restrictions were empowered by the Supreme Court’s decision inShelby County v. Holder(2013) overturning preclearance requirements from theVoting Rights Act of 1965– allowing states to pass restrictive voting legislation without federal oversight. As of late 2024, at least 31 states had passed114 new restrictive voting lawsin the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The reintroduction of the VEA also comes as President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are trying to further restrict voting and voter registration through theSAVE America Act.
The VEA responds to recently proposed federal and state-level restrictions by improving and protecting voter registration for all voters. Specifically, the bill would:
The full text of the VEA can be foundhere.
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