# 119-s-4884: Right to Vote Act

119-s-4884, Right to Vote Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA); status introduced (as of 2026-07-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4884
- As of: 2026-07-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4884
- Congress: 119
- Title: Right to Vote Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-24
- Sponsor: Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA] (D-GA)
- Cosponsors: 10
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-16

## 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). - 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.

## Cosponsors (10)

- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (D-WA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- A federal right to vote: benefit, high. 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 C…
- Stronger limits on voting restrictions: benefit, high. 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, p…
- Faster voting lawsuits and fee recovery: benefit, low. 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 fo…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026
- 119-s-1503: Equality Act
- 119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025
- 119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4884 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4884)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-5108: Right to IVF Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5108)
- [119-s-1503: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1503)
- [119-s-852: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-852)
- [119-s-2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2150)
- [119-s-2523: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2523)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4884 (as of 2026-07-16).