John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

Bill Number

S. 2523

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S4821)

Last Updated

2026-04-22T22:02:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 (S. 2523)

Purpose This bill amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to update criteria for federal oversight of voting practices, expand protections against vote denial, dilution, and abridgment, and add safeguards for election workers and polling places.

Key Provisions

• Section 2 Amendments: Expands claims under the Voting Rights Act to cover vote dilution (based on Thornburg v. Gingles standards, including coalition groups), vote denial or abridgment (requiring a discriminatory burden linked to social/historical conditions), and intentional discrimination. Retrogression (diminishing minority voting ability) is prohibited for actions after January 1, 2021.
• Section 4 Coverage: Replaces prior formula with a 25-year lookback for voting rights violations (15+ statewide or 3+ in a subdivision triggers coverage for 10 years). Violations include court findings, Attorney General objections, consent decrees, and certain settlements.
• New Section 4A: Requires preclearance for "covered practices" (e.g., at-large elections, boundary changes, strict ID rules, reduced polling places, list maintenance changes) in jurisdictions meeting demographic thresholds (e.g., 20% racial/language minority populations). Allows declaratory judgment or Attorney General review.
• Transparency (New Section 6): Mandates public notice for voting changes, polling resources, and redistricting data, with accessibility for disabled voters.
• Enforcement Updates: Expands observer authority, allows private lawsuits for preventive relief, lowers burdens for preliminary injunctions, and grants Attorney General document demands. Updates bilingual election requirements through 2037.
• Title II (Election Worker Protection): Prohibits interference with voting, poll watching, or election administration, with penalties up to $5,000 and 1 year imprisonment for injury or weapons use.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Revises the coverage formula post-Shelby County v. Holder (2013) to focus on recent violations rather than the 1965 formula.
• Broadens Section 2 to explicitly include intent, retrogression, and coalition claims; excludes certain defenses like long usage or other states' practices.
• Introduces practice-based preclearance independent of full Section 5 coverage.
• Enhances private enforcement and preliminary relief standards.
• Adds protections for election infrastructure and workers.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases reporting and compliance burdens on state/local election officials; expands Department of Justice and court roles in oversight and enforcement.
• Citizens: Strengthens access for racial and language minority voters through expanded claims and transparency.
• International Relations: None specified.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States and political subdivisions with voting violation histories.
• Racial and language minority groups.
• Election officials, poll workers, and vendors.
• Department of Justice and federal courts.
• Advocacy organizations and individual voters.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Reinforces 14th and 15th Amendment enforcement via updated preclearance and private actions.
• Addresses post-2013 gaps by tying coverage to documented violations and specific practices.
• Includes severability clause to preserve remaining provisions if parts are invalidated.
• Defines "prevailing party" for attorneys' fees and adds Indian lands/tribal government considerations.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Cosponsors (46)

Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

Recent Actions

• 2025-07-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S4821)
• 2025-07-29: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (73 pages)