PRIA Logo™
119-s-4884119th Congress

Right to Vote Act

Sponsored By: Senator Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

Introduced

Summary

A federal right to vote would bar laws and rules that reduce citizens' ability to register, cast, or have ballots counted in federal elections. It would create strict legal tests for alleged retrogression and substantial impairment, require expedited court review, and allow prevailing plaintiffs to recover attorney fees under an amended 42 U.S.C. 1988(b).

Show full summary
  • Voters and communities would get a clear federal standard protecting registration, casting, and counting of ballots, making it easier to challenge changes that diminish voting power.
  • State, local, and territorial governments would face a tougher defense burden; they must show by clear and convincing evidence that a limit significantly furthers an important government interest and that no less-restrictive means exist.
  • Courts and litigants would use a two-step, burden-shifting framework for retrogression and substantial impairment claims and benefit from expedited handling to speed decisions.
  • Prevailing plaintiffs could recover attorney's fees under the amended fee-shifting rule, which may encourage more legal challenges to voting limits.
  • Coverage explicitly includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories and applies to federal elections on or after September 1, 2026.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

A federal right to vote

If enacted, the bill would declare that every citizen of legal voting age has a fundamental right to vote in Federal elections. It would define who the law covers, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. "Election" and "Federal office" would use the Federal Election Campaign Act meanings. "Government" would include federal, state, local, and territorial actors acting under color of law. "Vote" would cover things needed to make a vote effective, like registration, casting a ballot, and having it counted. The bill would say it does not let governments lawfully burden the right to vote, and it would not change other constitutional or state rights. A severability rule would keep the rest of the Act in force if a court throws out one part. These definitions and limits would take effect upon enactment.

Stronger limits on voting restrictions

If enacted, the bill would block government actions that reduce or substantially impair the ability to vote in Federal elections unless strict tests are met. For changes that were not in effect during the November 2024 Federal election and that will affect elections on or after September 1, 2026, plaintiffs must show a diminishment by a preponderance. The government must then justify the change by clear and convincing evidence and the plaintiff can show a less-restrictive alternative. For substantial impairments that apply to elections on or after September 1, 2026, plaintiffs first show impairment by a preponderance, and the government must then show by clear and convincing evidence that the impairment significantly furthers an important, particularized interest. These rules would set how courts weigh evidence and would apply beginning September 1, 2026.

Faster voting lawsuits and fee recovery

If enacted, the bill would make courts move Right to Vote Act cases ahead on the docket and handle them faster. Plaintiffs could sue in the District of Columbia, where the violation happened, or where a defendant lives or does business. Courts could order declaratory or injunctive relief, either for the law itself or for how it works in a case. The bill would also make prevailing parties eligible for attorneys' fees under the statute by adding the Right to Vote Act to the fee-shifting law. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

GA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]

    ME • I

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation