Freedom to Vote Act: An Update

Background

The Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) is a bill that addresses voter registration, voting access, election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign financing. The act was introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2021 and has been the subject of much debate since then.

Recent Developments

On January 19, 2022, Democrats attempted to pass the FTVA as part of a combined bill with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. However, the bill failed to pass due to a lack of support from Republicans.

The FTVA comes at a time when there has been a wave of restrictive voting bills introduced in states across the country. In 2021, 43 states introduced restrictive voting bills and 18 states passed them. These bills have made it more difficult for people to register to vote and cast their ballots.

The Future of the FTVA

The FTVA is a slimmed-down version of HR 1, a massive Democratic messaging bill on voting rights. The FTVA has been met with opposition from Republicans, who argue that it is unnecessary and would lead to voter fraud.

The future of the FTVA is uncertain. Democrats have vowed to continue to push for its passage, but it is unclear whether they will be able to overcome Republican opposition.