U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced on April 27 the reintroduction of a joint resolution that would explicitly establish an individual right to vote in the United States Constitution.
The proposal seeks to address concerns about voter suppression and ensure all Americans have protected access to voting. The move comes as debates continue over voting rights and access across the country.
“In the words of the late John Lewis, the right to vote is ‘the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument we have in a democratic society.’ When Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 and then reauthorized the bill in 2006, an overwhelming bipartisan majority supported the measure,” Durbin said. “But today, this presidential administration is dead set on restricting Americans’ voting rights by pushing for partisan gerrymandering, restricting mail-in voting, and demanding unreasonable voter registration requirements. We need to advance additional tools to push back against current and future voter suppression efforts, and that includes providing a North Star to strive for: an explicit, individual right to vote in the Constitution.”
According to Durbin’s office, if adopted, his joint resolution would provide every citizen of legal voting age with a fundamental right to vote in any public election where they reside; authorize Congress through legislation to enforce this amendment; require courts use strict scrutiny when reviewing any effort limiting this right; and prevent states from using Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment as grounds for denying citizens with criminal convictions their ability to vote.
The joint resolution has been cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley, Mazie Hirono, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal, Alex Padilla, Ed Markey and Peter Welch. It has also received endorsements from Advancement Project, Color of Change and National Action Network.
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays a key role in constitutional protections through its legislative work and oversight duties according to its official website. The committee aims at upholding constitutional principles by reviewing legislation related both civil rights issues like voting as well as judicial nominations according to its official website. Led by a chairperson who organizes hearings attended by senators from both major parties according to its official website, it exerts influence on federal law across all states according to its official website.
As part of its standing authority over judicial matters nationwide according to its official website, actions taken by or involving this committee can affect civil rights protections such as those addressed by Durbin’s proposed amendment.
