HJ0034 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0034 LRB102 18029 ECR 24904 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Voting is an American principle and a basic democratic right that should be protected, promoted, and practiced; and

WHEREAS, Many people are surprised to learn that while the U.S. Constitution bans the restriction of voting based on race, sex, and age it does not explicitly and affirmatively state that all U.S. citizens have a right to vote; this leaves voting rights vulnerable to the whims of politicians; and

WHEREAS, Even as the rising American electorate gains momentum, new regressive laws, rulings, and maneuvers are threatening voting rights without facing the strict scrutiny that would come with an affirmative right to vote in the Constitution; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled in Bush v. Gore that citizens do not have the right to vote for electors for president; and

WHEREAS, In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act; this striped the Justice Department of the powers it had for five decades to curb racial discrimination in voting; the Election Assistance Commission was left without commissioners for years and frequently faces bills in Congress that would end its existence entirely; and

WHEREAS, Voting rights for Americans convicted of felonies who have already completed their sentences vary substantially from state to state; and

WHEREAS, Americans living overseas have trouble registering in their home district because their state may not consider them residents anymore; and

WHEREAS, Many college students attempting to register at their college precinct have faced voter intimidation or were simply refused the ability to register to vote; and

WHEREAS, Many schools skip civics education, which contributes to the decline in voter turnout in local and primary elections; and

WHEREAS, Voter identification and registration requirements, as well as the machines that voters use, vary widely between states; the U.S. has a patchwork of inconsistent voting rules run independently by 50 states, 3,067 counties, and over 13,000 voting districts, all separate and unequal; and

WHEREAS, 49 out of the 50 states have a right to vote amendment in their state constitutions; only Arizona lacks the right to vote; and

WHEREAS, At present, Congress can take no action to formally help improve voting standards across the nation; and

WHEREAS, A right to vote amendment would empower Congress to enact minimum electoral standards to guarantee a higher degree of legitimacy, inclusivity, and consistency across the country; and

WHEREAS, Including an explicit right to vote in the Constitution would guarantee the voting rights of every citizen of voting age, ensure that every vote is counted correctly, and defend against attempts to effectively disenfranchise eligible voters; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress to adopt an affirmative right to vote amendment to the United States Constitution to ensure the will and voice of the people are protected; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we condemn voter suppression efforts across states and at the federal level; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and all members of Congress.