HJ0034LRB102 18029 ECR 24904 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Voting is an American principle and a basic
3democratic right that should be protected, promoted, and
4practiced; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Many people are surprised to learn that while the
6U.S. Constitution bans the restriction of voting based on
7race, sex, and age it does not explicitly and affirmatively
8state that all U.S. citizens have a right to vote; this leaves
9voting rights vulnerable to the whims of politicians; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Even as the rising American electorate gains
11momentum, new regressive laws, rulings, and maneuvers are
12threatening voting rights without facing the strict scrutiny
13that would come with an affirmative right to vote in the
14Constitution; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore
16that citizens do not have the right to vote for electors for
17president; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4
19of the Voting Rights Act; this striped the Justice Department
20of the powers it had for five decades to curb racial
21discrimination in voting; the Election Assistance Commission

 

 

HJ0034- 2 -LRB102 18029 ECR 24904 r

1was left without commissioners for years and frequently faces
2bills in Congress that would end its existence entirely; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Voting rights for Americans convicted of felonies
4who have already completed their sentences vary substantially
5from state to state; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Americans living overseas have trouble
7registering in their home district because their state may not
8consider them residents anymore; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Many college students attempting to register at
10their college precinct have faced voter intimidation or were
11simply refused the ability to register to vote; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Many schools skip civics education, which
13contributes to the decline in voter turnout in local and
14primary elections; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Voter identification and registration
16requirements, as well as the machines that voters use, vary
17widely between states; the U.S. has a patchwork of
18inconsistent voting rules run independently by 50 states,
193,067 counties, and over 13,000 voting districts, all separate
20and unequal; and
 

 

 

HJ0034- 3 -LRB102 18029 ECR 24904 r

1    WHEREAS, 49 out of the 50 states have a right to vote
2amendment in their state constitutions; only Arizona lacks the
3right to vote; and
 
4    WHEREAS, At present, Congress can take no action to
5formally help improve voting standards across the nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, A right to vote amendment would empower Congress
7to enact minimum electoral standards to guarantee a higher
8degree of legitimacy, inclusivity, and consistency across the
9country; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Including an explicit right to vote in the
11Constitution would guarantee the voting rights of every
12citizen of voting age, ensure that every vote is counted
13correctly, and defend against attempts to effectively
14disenfranchise eligible voters; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
17SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to adopt an
18affirmative right to vote amendment to the United States
19Constitution to ensure the will and voice of the people are
20protected; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That we condemn voter suppression efforts across

 

 

HJ0034- 4 -LRB102 18029 ECR 24904 r

1states and at the federal level; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
3delivered to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala
4Harris, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy
5Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and all members
6of Congress.