Legislation

Freedom to Vote Act

This robust democracy reform package will give everyday people a bigger voice in politics and create a more ethical and accountable government.

Read The Bill

We the People deserve a responsive, accountable government that gives us all a meaningful voice and puts our needs ahead of those of special interests.

With the Freedom to Vote Act, we can make it happen.

What is the Freedom to Vote Act?

This bold, comprehensive package of reforms tackles some of our democracy’s most pressing issues.

The Freedom to Vote Act…

Expands access to the vote for all eligible Americans

The bill sets fair, national standards such as a guaranteed two weeks of early voting; automatic voter registration; vote-by-mail for all who want it, postage prepaid; voter-verified paper ballots; strict rules to prohibit purging of eligible voters from the rolls.

Blocks partisan and racial gerrymandering

The bill creates legally enforceable standards so that politicians cannot abuse their redistricting power for their own advantage.

Makes democracy more transparent

The bill makes secret money organizations disclose their donors, ensuring voters know who is trying to influence our voices and our votes and holding anyone who violates disclosure rules accountable.

Breaks the grip of big money in politics

The bill implements a small-donor driven matching funds system, letting candidates run for the House of Representatives if states opt-in without relying on special interests. That way, public officials can better reflect the constituencies they serve.

Where is the Freedom to Vote Act today?

The bill was introduced by the Senate as S. 1 in 2023, meaning it is the Senate’s top legislative priority. There is no question that passing this bill will be an uphill fight—but we cannot give up now.

Together, we need to show our support for this groundbreaking package of reforms and let Congress know that their constituents expect them to protect the freedom to vote.

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The Freedom to Vote or the Freedom to Filibuster

Blog Post

The Freedom to Vote or the Freedom to Filibuster

Senate Republicans used a loophole in the Senate’s rules—the filibuster —to block even holding a debate on the Freedom to Vote Act. It’s the third time they’ve stopped their colleagues from debating voting rights legislation this year. Senators now face a choice: protect the freedom to vote and find a way to send this bill to President Biden’s desk, or let it die due to Republican obstruction and abuse of internal Senate rules.

A major step forward for the Freedom to Vote Act

Blog Post

A major step forward for the Freedom to Vote Act

Either we protect the freedom to vote, or protect the filibuster, an antiquated Senate loophole that lets McConnell block crucial legislation.

Press

Raw Story/Common Dreams: ‘Our Democracy demands it’: Rights groups cheer as Dems revive Freedom to Vote act

News Clip

Raw Story/Common Dreams: ‘Our Democracy demands it’: Rights groups cheer as Dems revive Freedom to Vote act

Common Cause interim co-president Marilyn Carpinteyro on Tuesday sent a letter to all members of Congress on behalf of her group and its more than 1.5 million members and supporters "in strong support of the Freedom to Vote Act and in strong opposition to the 'American Confidence in Elections' (ACE) Act," which was introduced by House Republicans earlier this month.

"The ACE Act is a giant step backward and would silence the voices of everyday Americans by putting up barriers to voting and by allowing millions of dollars...

Insider: Out of 18 pro-democracy bills in 2022, the US Senate filibuster torpedoed 17 of them: report

News Clip

Insider: Out of 18 pro-democracy bills in 2022, the US Senate filibuster torpedoed 17 of them: report

Common Cause also ranked individual members of Congress on their pro-democracy efforts, with 101 members — all Democrats — earning a perfect score. That's a more than 70% increase over the number of members of Congress who had perfect scores (58) in the 2020 Democracy Scorecard.

Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn cited the legislative filibuster as the roadblock to pro-democracy reform. 

"In the end, with high levels of support in Congress and an overwhelming outpouring of public support, Congress ran...

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