Meng Marks National Voter Registration Day by Renewing Call for Passage of Her Bill Seeking to Expand Voting and Increase Voter Registration

September 22, 2020
Press Release

Congresswoman’s measure would, among other things, initiate automatic voter registration, make voter registration portable and make election day a national holiday

QUEENS, NY – To mark National Voter Registration Day today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) renewed her call for the House of Representatives to pass her legislation that would expand voting and increase voter registration in the United States.
Meng's 21st Century Voting Act (H.R.394) aims to remove barriers that would allow more Americans to register and cast ballots in local, state, and national elections. The measure would create a Commission on Voting tasked with proposing legislation to:
  1. Make Election Day a national holiday to make it easier for more people to vote
  2. Initiate automatic voter registration in which eligible voters are automatically registered to vote whenever they interact with government agencies
  3. Make voter registration portable so voters don't have to re-register if they move within their state
  4. Restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated persons
  5. Allow voting information, such as polling place and registration status, to be available online so voters can easily find out when and where they vote
  6. Strengthen and streamline voting cybersecurity protections to assure voters that their voting information is safe and secure
  7. Provide additional federal resources to state and local election boards
  8. Establish a quadrennial review of voting in America
"The success and vibrancy of our democracy is anchored in the U.S. Constitution that guarantees voting rights to all Americans," said Meng. "Unfortunately, far too many Americans continue to have their access to the ballot box restricted, and many remain unregistered. Congress must act to change this and my legislation would ensure that more Americans have a chance to cast their ballot and register to vote. As we mark National Voter Registration Day, I renew my call for the House to pass my bill. We must continue our efforts to register as many people as possible and make voting as accessible as possible, especially with the challenges of casting a ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Introduced in January 2019, the Congresswoman's legislation is pending before the House Administration Committee and the House Rules Committee.
Voters in New York can check on their registration status by going to https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/.