Voting Rights
My personal experiences in Florida in recent elections testify to a simple fact: Voter suppression remains a serious threat to civil rights in 21st Century America. Marathon voting lines for low-income and minority groups, reduced early voting hours, voters purges, and voter registration restrictions, remain endemic. While our nation has made progress since the passage of the Voting Rights Act, voter discrimination remains a reality.
As a result of voters in Florida having to contend with long lines and long wait times to cast their vote on Election Day 2012, I formally requested a review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
To read the study, please visit this link: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-14-850
More on Voting Rights
Tuesday, Congresswoman Wilson, alongside U.S. Senator Butler and many students, introduced the High School Voter Empowerment Act, which would boost civic engagement and increase voter registration among young people. This bill does that by adding public high schools as voter registration sites, increasing student voter participation and federal grant eligibility. A livestream of the press conference can be found here.
Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) released the following statement regarding former President Trump's indictment in his effort to overturn the 2020 election.
"The cornerstone of our democracy is the sacred right of every American citizen to cast their vote and have it count. We witnessed an unprecedented assault on this fundamental principle by former President Trump— the now thrice indicted, twice impeached, sued, insurrection inciter.
"No one is above the law.
Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), cosponsored a bill to protect our democracy, defend it against continued and relentless attacks, and ensure that the voices and votes of regular Americans are heard in our elections. She issued the following statement regarding the reintroduction of the Freedom to Vote Act:
Today, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling in the Allen v. Milligan case, concluding that Alabama's Congressional maps unconstitutionally dilute the strength of Black voters:
Wilson Statement on Passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act:
Members of Florida's Congressional delegation called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to further extend a voter registration deadline to midnight Wednesday after heavy traffic crashed the state's online enrollment system Monday, potentially preventing thousands of would-be voters from signing up to cast ballots in next month's presidential election.
Wilson Joins House Democrats in Passing Historic Voting Rights,
Anti-Corruption and Ethics Reforms
H.R. 1, the For the People Act, Will Clean Up Corruption in Washington,
Protect and Expand the Right to Vote and Restore Ethics and Integrity to Government
Congresswoman Wilson this week introduced the Vote from Home America Act (H.R. 7118). The legislation calls for states to send an absentee ballot with a pre-paid, self-addressed return envelope to every registered voter for this year's upcoming federal elections. Co-sponsors include Representatives David Cicilline (RI-1) and Mark Takano (CA-41).
Congresswoman Wilson issued the following statement in response to opposition by Gov. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to election recounts:
"I am profoundly disappointed by the efforts of Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio to silence the voices of voters in our state. Rather than allow a fair process and pushing for every vote to be counted, they are making reckless and unfounded claims that Democrats are trying to steal the election.
"Who stole their integrity?