H.R. 4 - 116th Congress (2019-2020) - 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.

The bill specifies practices that all jurisdictions must preclear before implementing.

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.

Text (4)

December 9, 2019

December 6, 2019

November 29, 2019

February 26, 2019

Amendments (1)

Dec 06, 2019

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 699

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 741, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in Part A of House Report 116-322 is considered to be adopted.

Agreed To

Actions (24)

Show Only Major Actions

07/27/2020

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

12/09/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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.

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

The previous question was ordered without objection.

12/06/2019

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

12/06/2019

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.

12/06/2019

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

12/04/2019

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.

11/29/2019

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 258.

11/29/2019

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

10/23/2019

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

10/23/2019

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

10/22/2019

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

03/25/2019

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

02/26/2019

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

02/26/2019

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Nov 1, 2022 4:32:52 PM