Pocan Introduces Constitutional Amendment Guaranteeing Right to Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) reintroduced legislation that would amend the Constitution to explicitly guarantee the right to vote. At a time when voting rights are under attack nationwide, this amendment would provide all Americans of voting age the affirmative right to vote and further empower Congress to protect this fundamental right.

"Democracy works best when everyone participates," said Rep. Pocan. "Across the country, elected officials are attempting to disenfranchise voters and restrict access to the ballot box through any loophole they can find — all for their own political gain. The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy; it's too important to be left open to interpretation. A constitutional amendment would ensure every voice is heard and every vote counts the same. As one of the world's leading democracies, we must demand of ourselves what we demand of others: a guaranteed right to vote for all."

Pocan has introduced identical legislation every term since the 113th Congress, and is joined this year by 22 original cosponsors and 11 endorsing organizations.

"Our Constitution is in many ways an aspirational charter. And it is far from perfect," Sarah E. Turberville, Director, The Constitution Project said. "While it prohibits the government from denying the right to vote under numerous circumstances, the Supreme Court and policymakers across the country have exploited gaps in our founding document to suppress the right to vote in other nefarious ways. Congressman Pocan's resolution is an apolitical and obvious solution needed to ensure we have a democracy that is truly representative of the governed."

"The right to vote is fundamental to a democracy," Daniel Schuman, policy director, Demand Progress said. "Our democracy has a long, unfortunate history of limits on that fundamental right in furtherance of granting political minorities the power to rule over political majorities. This cannot be tolerated and we cannot rely on the courts as a guarantor of this basic right. For now, and for all time, the right to vote must be enumerated in the Constitution and enforceable by an act of Congress."

"Our democracy is built on the promise of one person, one vote. We applaud Congressman Pocan on his leadership and commitment to protecting that right with this amendment," Tiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund said.

"Already enshrined in many state constitutions, a federal right to vote amendment will provide a national guarantee of the right of every eligible voter to participate in our elections. Affirming that right will ensure that voting is accessible, fair, and secure in every corner of the country," said Rob Richie, President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. "This amendment comes at a particularly important time – a moment of great promise and peril for our republic, in which too many Americans are distrustful and dissatisfied with our elections and seek a better way forward."

"Republicans are relentless and systematically working to chip away at the foundational right to vote and undermining our basic democratic principles," said MoveOn Executive Director Rahna Epting. "As we anticipate the Republican-packed Supreme Court further stripping away voting rights protections, it is critical to continue fighting to enshrine people's right to vote – I am grateful to Congressman Pocan for his leadership on this important resolution."

"This is simple. We fully endorse Rep. Mark Pocan's joint resolution, a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to vote," said Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice. "Unitarian Universalists want a healthy, inclusive democracy. We envision an America where all eligible voters participate, with ease, in the election of our leadership. Where every voice within our Nation is treated with dignity and valued, even in disagreement. Our foundation for this desire is clear. As a matter of faith, we uphold 'the inherent worth and dignity of every person.' We do so right alongside a belief in 'the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.' We, therefore, endorse Rep. Pocan's constitutional amendment with our loudest voice and most fervent commitment to love and justice."

Endorsing Organizations Include: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Demand Progress, End Citizens United / Let America Vote Action Fund, FairVote, Fix Democracy First, Indivisible, MoveOn, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Project On Government Oversight, Sojourners, and Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice.

The full text of this resolution is as follows:

Section 1. Every citizen of the United States, who is of legal voting age, shall have the fundamental right to vote in any public election held in the jurisdiction in which the citizen resides.

Section 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation.