WASHINGTON (July 18, 2023)—Today, members of the U.S. House and Senate introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, a package of new voter protections and standards for administering elections. This bill would go a long way towards ensuring free and fair elections across the country, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Below is a statement by Dr. Jennifer Jones, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at UCS.
“Our country is at a critical point for the health of our democracy. Threats to voting rights are emerging from federal courts and state legislatures. Without a strong participatory democracy, politics becomes a pure contest of power, susceptible to influence from ideological extremists and self-interested corporations, at a real cost to the lives and livelihoods of people in underserved communities. At this vital moment, the Freedom to Vote Act is a necessary counter to efforts to restrict the vote and depress participation.
“The Freedom to Vote Act would protect and expand the right to vote across the country. It would provide voters with more reliable access to the polls, including early voting and mail voting; ensure that votes are accurately and fairly counted; and offer clear standards to prevent extreme partisan gerrymandering. This package of commonsense reforms would make a big difference in ensuring that our elections truly represent the will of the voters and that our leaders are accountable to the people they serve.”