Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote.

Bill Number

H.J.Res. 196

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-01T08:08:50Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.J. Res. 196

Purpose

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to establish an explicit right to vote for eligible citizens and to set standards for election administration.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Grants each U.S. citizen of legal voting age the right to vote in public elections in their jurisdiction of residence. This right may not be denied or restricted by the federal government, states, or private entities, except for requirements that are narrowly tailored to protect election integrity.
• Section 2: Requires states to run public elections according to performance standards established by Congress through legislation.
• Section 3: Mandates that states allow eligible voters to register and cast ballots on the day of any public election.
• Section 4: Authorizes Congress to enforce and implement the amendment through appropriate laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The amendment would add a new constitutional right to vote, which is not explicitly stated in the current Constitution. It would expand federal authority by allowing Congress to set nationwide election standards and require same-day voter registration and voting, shifting some control from states to the federal level while limiting certain restrictions on voting access.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: States would need to update election procedures to meet federal standards and provide same-day registration, potentially increasing administrative costs and requiring coordination with Congress.
• On citizens: Eligible voters could gain broader access to registration and voting, with protections against arbitrary denial of the right.
• On international relations: No direct effects anticipated, as the measure focuses on domestic election processes.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. citizens eligible to vote.
• State governments and election officials responsible for administering elections.
• Congress, which would gain enforcement and standard-setting powers.
• Political parties and advocacy groups involved in voting rights.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

As a proposed constitutional amendment, it would require ratification by legislatures in three-fourths of the states to take effect. It could lead to increased federal oversight of elections, potential legal challenges over the scope of "narrowly tailored" restrictions, and debates on balancing state autonomy with uniform national voting protections.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

Cosponsors (16)

Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States regarding the right to vote. — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (2 pages)