King Introduces Bill to Protect Voter Access, Strengthen Democracy

July 24, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S Senator Angus King Jr. (I-Maine) has introduced theFreedom to Vote Act,legislation to improve access to the ballot for Americans and advance common-sense election integrity reforms. The bill reflects extensive feedback from state and local election officials,including Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, to ensure the local authorities directly responsible for implementing reforms are able to do so effectively. It also would end partisan gerrymandering and help eliminate the undue influence of secret money in our elections.
“Any threat to the democratic process is a threat to our democracy itself,” saidSenatorKing. “In the face of state-level threats that undercut the fundamental right to vote for millions of Americans, we must act to protect our democracy. The Freedom to Vote Act sets commonsense minimum standards to ensure that no state infringes upon its citizens’ right to vote, and confronts widespread anti-democratic practices such as partisan gerrymandering and dark money spending. Free, fair and open elections are the backbone of our national commitment to government of the people, by the people, and for the people – and through this legislation, we will do our part to pass this experiment in self-government on to the next generation of Americans.”
TheFreedom to Vote Actis supported by over forty Senators. The bill includes three sections, each intended to protect the right to vote and strengthen our democracy. Bill text can be foundhere.
This section includes provisions to advance voter access by implementing reliable state best practices for voter registration and election administration to ensure all Americans can easily exercise their freedom to vote regardless of where they live.
This section includes measures to promote confidence in elections, stop partisan election subversion, and protect against election interference, both foreign and domestic.
This section includes provisions to prevent partisan manipulation of the redistricting process, establishes uniform disclosure standards for money in politics, and empowers states to make critical investments in their election systems.
Senator King has been one of the Senate’s most outspoken voices for the need to protect American democracy against growing threats and increase voter trust. In October 2021 hedelivered an impassioned speechon the Senate floor urging action on voting rights, stating that we are currently “at a hinge of history” that will determine the future of the American experiment in self-government. Hebuilt on these arguments in a speech from the Senate floorwhere he called for reforms to the filibuster to allow for common sense voting rights legislation to pass. He also released the draftElectoral Count Modernization Actto shape the conversation around establishing clear, consistent, and fair procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency.