The Freedom to Vote Act sets out to create national standards that ensure voting options are equally accessible across all 50 states and DC to guarantee that Americans have a say in key decisions that impact our lives. Specifically, this legislation:

• Ensures that early voting and mail voting are equally available in every state
• Offers same-day voter registration on Election Day 
• Makes online voter registration available in every state
• Sets a uniform standard for voter identification cards and documents needed to vote in person, which includes both digital or hard copies of student IDs, tribal IDs, government provided assistance cards (TANF and SNAP), and more. 
• Enacts an automatic voter registration system through the Department of Motor Vehicles in every state
• Offers protection against voter roll purges that disenfranchise registered voters

The Freedom to Vote Act seeks to ensure power is with the people by taking aim at the influence of money in our politics, making campaigns more transparent. Specifically, this legislation:

• Creates an “Honest Ad” policy requiring online political ads to have clear disclosures
• Closes loopholes used to donate anonymously

The Freedom to Vote Act introduces new election administration standards to ensure voters’ voices are heard and election officials are supported.. Specifically, this legislation:

• Offers protection against voter roll purges that disenfranchise registered voters
• Ensures provisional ballots are counted for all eligible races within a county, regardless of the precinct they were cast in
• Provides funding for state-led innovation in election infrastructure
• Creates a nonpartisan election official recruitment and training program
• Establishes federal protections for nonpartisan election officials to prevent undue partisan interference or control

The Freedom to Vote Act aims to create a transparent election process while ensuring safe and accessible elections for all. Specifically, this legislation:

• Ensures votes are recorded on paper ballots that can be accurately recounted
• Requires election technology vendor oversight
• Strengthens cybersecurity measures to protect voting information
• Provides grants for states to purchase secure voting machines and invest in cybersecurity 
• Improves the ability of the Federal Election Commission to enforce election regulations

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County v. Holder gutted The Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Court recognized that discrimination still existed and preclearance was still needed, but it ruled the formula used to determine which areas were required to seek preclearance was outdated. It called on Congress to update the formula.

In the eight years since the Shelby decision, Congress has failed to pass a new formula resulting in a significantly weakened VRA. Without a formula, areas with a long history of discrimination do not have to get permission from the federal government to change their election-related policies. That means, it is open season for voter suppression.

You can read more about preclearance and the Shelby decision in Rock the Vote’s explainer.)

Following the Shelby County ruling, several states passed sweeping voter suppression laws that disproportionately prevent young people, minorities, people with no and low income, people with disabilities, and people who are not fluent in English from voting.

Today, there is a full assault on the Freedom to Vote. In 2021 alone, more than 389 bills in 48 states have been introduced to restrict Americans’ freedom to vote, such as high profile bills in Arizona and Texas. Newly enacted legislation in places like Florida, Georgia and Iowa include wide sweeping restrictions that attack not only the freedom to vote, but also the courts where discriminatory policies are challenged.