Bill Text: NJ SR39 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges US Congress adopt comprehensive voting rights legislation.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-31 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR39 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-SR39-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Senator NICHOLAS P. SCUTARI
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges US Congress adopt comprehensive voting rights legislation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Congress to adopt comprehensive voting rights legislation.
Whereas, The third Monday in January each year marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who worked tirelessly to secure voting rights; and
Whereas, New Jersey is home to the first town in the United States to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a holiday; and
Whereas, The efforts made in New Jersey after World War II and by leaders during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s sought to promote and protect the right to vote and achieved significant results; and
Whereas, The federal "Voting Rights Act of 1965" removed the barriers faced by people of color in exercising their right to vote, including intimidation, poll taxes, and literacy tests; and
Whereas, The United States Congress has the opportunity to pass federal elections reform and bolster and update the "Voting Rights Act of 1965" through the "Freedom to Vote Act" and the "John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act"; and
Whereas, New Jersey enhanced access to voting for the 2020 election, including by launching an online voter registration form; and
Whereas, Voter turnout in the 2020 election broke records in New Jersey; and
Whereas, Efforts to restrict access to voting have increased recently, with many states passing laws requiring certain kinds of identification, giving less time to obtain mail-in ballots, and imposing criminal penalties for handing out water for voters waiting at the polls; and
Whereas, Over 425 bills were introduced in 2021 legislative sessions across the country to restrict voter access, including in New Jersey where legislation was introduced to require photo identification for voters; and
Whereas, Nineteen states succeeded in passing 34 restrictive voting laws last year; and
Whereas, The climate created due to conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric about the integrity of the 2020 election led to the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol, interfering with the peaceful transfer of power after a legitimate presidential election, which shows the absolute need for voting protections and the protection of our democracy; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders in the United States Senate, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Congress to pass comprehensive voting rights legislation. On the third January of each year the United States observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in order to honor the memory, legacy, and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King worked tirelessly to advance voting rights for people of color in our nation.
Recently, attacks on voting rights have increased across the country, making the need for improved protections of voting rights ever more apparent. The United States Congress has the opportunity to pass two landmark voting rights bills, the "Freedom to Vote Act" and the "John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act."
New Jersey has worked to increase voter access, including by introducing online voter registration for the 2020 election, and experienced record voter turnout for the same election, however the State is not immune to efforts to restrict voting rights as evidenced by some legislation introduced in the 2020-2021 session.
The United States suffered immensely after the events of January 6, 2021, and now lives with the potent reminder that misinformation, fear, and bigotry are always present in our society, making the need for stronger voting protections more important than ever.
