United States 116th Congress Status: Passed House 230 D cosponsors

HR 4 — Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019

Last action — Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 107, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4 have been made.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill updates preclearance requirements for voting changes in certain states and political subdivisions.

The Voting Rights Advancement Act establishes new criteria for which states must get federal approval before altering voting practices. It aims to enhance oversight of voting rights by requiring preclearance based on past voting rights violations.

Summary

Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.) A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance. All jurisdictions must preclear changes to requirements for documentation to vote that make the requirements more stringent than federal requirements for voters who register by mail or state law. The bill specifies practices jurisdictions meeting certain thresholds regarding racial minority groups, language minority groups, or minority groups on Indian land, must preclear before implementing. These practices include changes to methods of election, changes to jurisdiction boundaries, redistricting, changes to voting locations and opportunities, and changes to voter registration list maintenance. The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

5 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The text reflects that the bill H.R. 4 was received in the Senate on December 9, 2019, and has been read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. It also indicates that lines associated with the previous version of the bill, specifically the "Engrossed in House" notation, have been removed. This change signifies that the bill has moved from the House to the Senate for further consideration by the Judiciary Committee.

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4 Engrossed in House (EH)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
4 Referred in Senate (RFS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
4 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.
4 _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 9, 2019 Received;
read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.
Clerk.
CHERYL L.
116th CONGRESS 1st Session H.
JOHNSON, Clerk.
R.
4 _______________________________________________________________________ AN ACT To amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.
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How this bill changes current law

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Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Voting Rights Act to expand the criteria for federal oversight of state voting practices by including additional types of violations.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10302(c)

    violations of the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment → violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment, violations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group

    Expands the definition of violations that can trigger federal jurisdiction.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10302(a)

    violations of the fourteenth or fifteenth amendment → violations of the 14th or 15th Amendment, violations of this Act, or violations of any Federal law that prohibits discrimination in voting on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group

    Broadens the types of violations that a court can consider under the law.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(b)

    (1) Existence of voting rights violations during previous 25 years.-- (A) Statewide application.--Subsection (a) applies with respect to a State and all political subdivisions within the State during a calendar year if-- (i) fifteen or more voting rights violations occurred in the State during the previous 25 calendar years; or (ii) ten or more voting rights violations occurred in the State during the previous 25 calendar years, at least one of which was committed by the State itself (as opposed to a political subdivision within the State). (B) Application to specific political subdivisions.--Subsection (a) applies with respect to a political subdivision as a separate unit during a calendar year if three or more voting rights violations occurred in the subdivision during the previous 25 calendar years.

    Establishes specific criteria for identifying states and political subdivisions subject to federal oversight based on past voting rights violations.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(b)

    For purposes of paragraph (1), a voting rights violation occurred in a State or political subdivision if any of the following applies: (A) Final judgment; violation of the 14th or 15th amendment.--In a final judgment (which has not been reversed on appeal), any court of the United States has determined that a denial or abridgement of the right of any citizen of the United States to vote on account of race, color, or membership in a language minority group, in violation of the 14th or 15th Amendment, occurred anywhere within the State or subdivision.

    Defines what constitutes a voting rights violation for the purpose of the new criteria for Section 4.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(a)

    any State with respect to which → any State to which this subsection applies during a calendar year pursuant to determinations made under subsection (b),

    Clarifies the applicability of voting rights protections to states based on the new criteria.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(a)

    unless → unless

    Modifies conditions for enforcement of voting qualifications to align with new criteria.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(a)

    second sentence

    Removes redundancy concerning the requirement for a declaratory judgment for specific political subdivisions.

  • 52 U.S.C. 10303(a)

    (in the case of a State or subdivision seeking a declaratory judgment under the second sentence of this subsection)

    Simplifies language regarding declaratory judgments for states and subdivisions.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  4. Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

  5. Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Discharged.

  6. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 6.

  7. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  8. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-317.

  9. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 116-317.

  10. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 258.

  11. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 741 Reported to House. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Res. 326 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. The rule provides that the amendments to H. Res. 326 and preamble, modified by the amendments in Part B of the report are considered as adopted.

  12. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 741. (consideration: CR H9308-9330)

  13. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H. Res. 326 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate. The rule provides that the amendments to H. Res. 326 and preamble, modified by the amendments in Part B of the report are considered as adopted.

  14. DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4.

  15. The previous question was ordered without objection.

  16. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair postponed further proceedings on H.R. 4.

  17. Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX proceedings on H.R. 4 resumed. (consideration: CR H9331-9334)

  18. Mr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR H9331)

  19. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rodney Davis (IL) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting a new section entitled rule of construction which states that nothing in this Act may be construed to allow fines or other amounts paid to the United States in connection with a violation of title I of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 including any amount paid pursuant to a settlement agreement, to be used to make a payment in support of a campaign for election for the office of Senator or Representative in, or Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.

  20. The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

  21. On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 200 - 215 (Roll no. 653).

  22. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 187 (Roll no. 654).(text: CR H9308-9312)

  23. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 228 - 187 (Roll no. 654). (text: CR H9308-9312)

  24. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  25. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  26. Pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 107, enrollment corrections on H.R. 4 have been made.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 229 co-sponsors · 317 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (229)

Not signed on (317)

317 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 317 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

civil-rights elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4 do?
Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices in these areas may take effect. (Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.) A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if (1) 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years; or (2) 10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least one of which was committed by the state itself. A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years. A state or political subdivision that obtains a declaratory judgment that it has not used a voting practice to deny or abridge the right to vote shall be exempt from preclearance. All jurisdictions must preclear changes to requirements for documentation to vote that make the requirements more stringent than federal requirements for voters who register by mail or state law. The bill specifies practices jurisdictions meeting certain thresholds regarding racial minority groups, language minority groups, or minority groups on Indian land, must preclear before implementing. These practices include changes to methods of election, changes to jurisdiction boundaries, redistricting, changes to voting locations and opportunities, and changes to voter registration list maintenance. The bill expands the circumstances under which (1) a court may retain the authority to preclear voting changes made by a state or political subdivision, or (2) the Department of Justice may assign election observers. States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices. The bill revises the circumstances under which a court must grant preliminary injunctive relief in a challenge to voting practices.
Who sponsors HR 4?
HR 4 is sponsored by Lewis, John (Democratic), Pelosi, Nancy (Democratic), Hoyer, Steny H. (Democratic), Clyburn, James E. (Democratic), Luján, Ben Ray (Democratic), Chu, Judy (Democratic), Castro, Joaquin (Democratic), Jeffries, Hakeem S. (Democratic), Adams, Alma S. (Democratic), Aguilar, Pete (Democratic), Allred, Colin Z. (Democratic), Bass, Karen (Democratic), Beatty, Joyce (Democratic), Bera, Ami (Democratic), Beyer, Donald S. (Democratic), Bishop, Sanford D. (Democratic), Blumenauer, Earl (Democratic), Blunt Rochester, Lisa (Democratic), Bonamici, Suzanne (Democratic), Boyle, Brendan F. (Democratic), Brown, Anthony G. (Democratic), Brownley, Julia (Democratic), Bustos, Cheri (Democratic), Butterfield, G. K. (Democratic), Cárdenas, Tony (Democratic), Carson, André (Democratic), Cartwright, Matt (Democratic), Cicilline, David N. (Democratic), Cisneros, Gilbert Ray (Democratic), Clark, Katherine M. (Democratic), Clarke, Yvette D. (Democratic), Clay, Wm. Lacy (Democratic), Cleaver, Emanuel (Democratic), Connolly, Gerald E. (Democratic), Cooper, Jim (Democratic), Costa, Jim (Democratic), Cox, TJ (Democratic), Craig, Angie (Democratic), Crist, Charlie (Democratic), Cummings, Elijah E. (Democratic), Davis, Danny K. (Democratic), Dean, Madeleine (Democratic), DeGette, Diana (Democratic), DeLauro, Rosa L. (Democratic), DelBene, Suzan K. (Democratic), Delgado, Antonio (Democratic), Demings, Val Butler (Democratic), Deutch, Theodore E. (Democratic), Dingell, Debbie (Democratic), Doggett, Lloyd (Democratic), Doyle, Michael F. (Democratic), Engel, Eliot L. (Democratic), Escobar, Veronica (Democratic), Eshoo, Anna G. (Democratic), Espaillat, Adriano (Democratic), Gallego, Ruben (Democratic), Garamendi, John (Democratic), Gomez, Jimmy (Democratic), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Green, Al (Democratic), Haaland, Debra A. (Democratic), Hastings, Alcee L. (Democratic), Heck, Denny (Democratic), Higgins, Brian (Democratic), Hill, Katie (Democratic), Himes, James A. (Democratic), Horsford, Steven (Democratic), Huffman, Jared (Democratic), Jackson Lee, Sheila (Democratic), Jayapal, Pramila (Democratic), Johnson, Eddie Bernice (Democratic), Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" (Democratic), Keating, William R. (Democratic), Kelly, Robin L. (Democratic), Khanna, Ro (Democratic), Kilmer, Derek (Democratic), Kirkpatrick, Ann (Democratic), Krishnamoorthi, Raja (Democratic), Kuster, Ann M. (Democratic), Lamb, Conor (Democratic), Larsen, Rick (Democratic), Larson, John B. (Democratic), Lawrence, Brenda L. (Democratic), Lawson, Al, Jr. (Democratic), Lee, Barbara (Democratic), Lieu, Ted (Democratic), Lowenthal, Alan S. (Democratic), Lowey, Nita M. (Democratic), Lynch, Stephen F. (Democratic), Maloney, Carolyn B. (Democratic), Maloney, Sean Patrick (Democratic), Matsui, Doris O. (Democratic), McBath, Lucy (Democratic), McCollum, Betty (Democratic), McEachin, A. Donald (Democratic), McGovern, James P. (Democratic), Meeks, Gregory W. (Democratic), Meng, Grace (Democratic), Moore, Gwen (Democratic), Morelle, Joseph D. (Democratic), Moulton, Seth (Democratic), Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie (Democratic), Murphy, Stephanie N. (Democratic), Napolitano, Grace F. (Democratic), Norcross, Donald (Democratic), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria (Democratic), Omar, Ilhan (Democratic), Pallone, Frank (Democratic), Panetta, Jimmy (Democratic), Pappas, Chris (Democratic), Pascrell, Bill (Democratic), Perlmutter, Ed (Democratic), Peters, Scott H. (Democratic), Plaskett, Stacey E. (Democratic), Pocan, Mark (Democratic), Pressley, Ayanna (Democratic), Price, David E. (Democratic), Quigley, Mike (Democratic), Raskin, Jamie (Democratic), Rice, Kathleen M. (Democratic), Rouda, Harley (Democratic), Roybal-Allard, Lucille (Democratic), Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch (Democratic), Rush, Bobby L. (Democratic), Ryan, Tim (Democratic), Sánchez, Linda T. (Democratic), Scanlon, Mary Gay (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), Schiff, Adam B. (Democratic), Schneider, Bradley Scott (Democratic), Schrier, Kim (Democratic), Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" (Democratic), Scott, David (Democratic), Serrano, Jose E. (Democratic), Shalala, Donna E. (Democratic), Sherman, Brad (Democratic), Sherrill, Mikie (Democratic), Sires, Albio (Democratic), Smith, Adam (Democratic), Soto, Darren (Democratic), Spanberger, Abigail Davis (Democratic), Speier, Jackie (Democratic), Suozzi, Thomas R. (Democratic), Swalwell, Eric (Democratic), Takano, Mark (Democratic), Thompson, Bennie G. (Democratic), Titus, Dina (Democratic), Tlaib, Rashida (Democratic), Tonko, Paul (Democratic), Torres, Norma J. (Democratic), Trahan, Lori (Democratic), Vela, Filemon (Democratic), Wasserman Schultz, Debbie (Democratic), Watson Coleman, Bonnie (Democratic), Welch, Peter (Democratic), Wild, Susan (Democratic), Wilson, Frederica S. (Democratic), Case, Ed (Democratic), Casten, Sean (Democratic), Castor, Kathy (Democratic), Cohen, Steve (Democratic), Davids, Sharice (Democratic), DeSaulnier, Mark (Democratic), Finkenauer, Abby (Democratic), Fletcher, Lizzie (Democratic), Foster, Bill (Democratic), Cuellar, Henry (Democratic), Crow, Jason (Democratic), Fudge, Marcia L. (Democratic), Kildee, Daniel T. (Democratic), Kind, Ron (Democratic), Levin, Andy (Democratic), Levin, Mike (Democratic), Loebsack, David (Democratic), Lofgren, Zoe (Democratic), Neguse, Joe (Democratic), McNerney, Jerry (Democratic), Phillips, Dean (Democratic), Pingree, Chellie (Democratic), Ruiz, Raul (Democratic), Sarbanes, John P. (Democratic), Slotkin, Elissa (Democratic), Stanton, Greg (Democratic), Stevens, Haley M. (Democratic), Thompson, Mike (Democratic), Underwood, Lauren (Democratic), Veasey, Marc A. (Democratic), Velázquez, Nydia M. (Democratic), Waters, Maxine (Democratic), Wexton, Jennifer (Democratic), Porter, Katie (Democratic), Vargas, Juan (Democratic), García, Jesús G. "Chuy" (Democratic), Gonzalez, Vicente (Democratic), Trone, David J. (Democratic), Courtney, Joe (Democratic), Horn, Kendra S. (Democratic), Barragán, Nanette Diaz (Democratic), Davis, Susan A. (Democratic), Evans, Dwight (Democratic), Frankel, Lois (Democratic), Grijalva, Raúl M. (Democratic), Hayes, Jahana (Democratic), Nadler, Jerrold (Democratic), Kennedy, Joseph P., III (Democratic), Houlahan, Chrissy (Democratic), Yarmuth, John A. (Democratic), Lee, Susie (Democratic), Kim, Andy (Democratic), Garcia, Sylvia R. (Democratic), Carbajal, Salud O. (Democratic), DeFazio, Peter A. (Democratic), O'Halleran, Tom (Democratic), Rose, Max (Democratic), Payne, Donald M. (Democratic), Luria, Elaine G. (Democratic), Axne, Cynthia (Democratic), Neal, Richard E. (Democratic), Malinowski, Tom (Democratic), Langevin, James R. (Democratic), Gabbard, Tulsi (Democratic), Kaptur, Marcy (Democratic), Visclosky, Peter J. (Democratic), Correa, J. Luis (Democratic), Schrader, Kurt (Democratic), Torres Small, Xochitl (Democratic), Golden, Jared F. (Democratic), Cunningham, Joe (Democratic), and Sewell, Terri A. (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 4?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “Passed House” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4?
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