A resolution designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month".
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 390
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S6651)
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-24T22:18:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 390) aims to designate September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month" to raise awareness about the importance of voting rights, highlight historical and ongoing barriers to voting, and promote actions to ensure fair and accessible elections for all U.S. citizens. It emphasizes education, legislative support, and public engagement to strengthen democracy.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes several directives for the Senate and encourages broader actions:
- Designation of the Month: Officially recognizes September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month, coinciding with National Voter Registration Day on September 16, 2025.
- Promotion of Voting Rights: Urges all Americans to uphold the fundamental right to vote for every citizen.
- Encouragement of Legislation: Calls on Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025 (S. 2523 and H.R. 14) to restore and update protections from the 1965 Voting Rights Act, including safeguards against discriminatory district mapping (gerrymandering), and other laws to advance voting rights and protect elections.
- Educational Recommendations: Suggests that public schools and universities create curricula covering:
- The importance of voting, registration processes, polling locations, and voting methods.
- The history of voter suppression in the U.S., including before and after the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
- Current restrictions on voting.
- Recognition of Contributions: Expresses thanks to the U.S. Postal Service for issuing a stamp honoring Representative John R. Lewis, a key figure in the voting rights movement, to remind citizens of the sacrifices made for voting access.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Invites Congress to fund public service announcements across media platforms (e.g., TV, radio, social media, billboards) to inform people about election dates, registration deadlines, and encourage voting.
The resolution is supported by extensive "Whereas" clauses detailing historical voter suppression (e.g., literacy tests, poll taxes, Jim Crow laws), current issues (e.g., felony disenfranchisement affecting 4 million people, gerrymandering in states like Texas and North Carolina), and the need to update laws post the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which weakened federal oversight of voting changes in certain areas.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
As a non-binding resolution, this measure does not amend or create new laws. It serves as a symbolic statement without legal force, but it urges updates to existing statutes like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (a federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting) by advocating for the passage of related bills.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Could increase voter education and participation, especially among underrepresented groups (e.g., minorities, elderly, low-income, disabled, and formerly incarcerated individuals), by promoting awareness and reducing barriers like intimidation or faulty voting equipment. It may encourage more registrations and turnout, potentially affecting over 80 million vulnerable voters.
- On Government Agencies: Prompts Congress to consider funding for awareness campaigns and educational programs; highlights the role of the U.S. Postal Service in facilitating vote-by-mail and warns against efforts to undermine it. State legislatures may face indirect pressure to address gerrymandering and restrictive laws.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. commitments to democratic principles, which could influence global perceptions of American elections amid concerns over suppression tactics.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Voters and Communities: Particularly Black Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and other historically disenfranchised groups facing suppression; also elderly, poor, disabled, and felons (e.g., 1 in 16 Black adults disenfranchised due to convictions).
- Legislators and Congress: Senate members (introduced by Sen. Wyden and 25 cosponsors) and broader Congress, encouraged to act on voting rights bills.
- Educators and Institutions: Public schools and universities tasked with developing voting-related curricula.
- Government Entities: U.S. Postal Service (praised for its role in mail voting); federal and state election officials dealing with purges, equipment, and access issues.
- Media and Advocacy Groups: Involved in public service announcements and broader efforts to combat suppression.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: References the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the 2013 Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling, which removed a key formula for federal "preclearance" (pre-approval) of voting changes in high-risk areas, leading to unchallenged gerrymandering and restrictive laws in states like North Carolina and Texas. It calls for restoring these protections without creating new legal obligations.
- Constitutional: Underscores Congress's authority under the U.S. Constitution (e.g., Article I, Section 4) to regulate federal elections and protect voting rights under the 14th and 15th Amendments (guaranteeing equal protection and prohibiting racial discrimination in voting). It frames voting as a "sacred" democratic right.
- Political: Highlights partisan divides, noting Republican-led state efforts to gerrymander or enact restrictions (e.g., photo ID requirements, reduced early voting) post-2020 elections, with over 400 bills introduced nationwide. As a symbolic measure from Democratic senators, it could mobilize support for voting rights reforms but lacks enforcement, potentially serving as a platform for debate on election integrity versus access.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (27)
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-16: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S6651)
- 2025-09-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Designating September 2025 as National Voting Rights Month. — issued 2025-09-16 — PDF (7 pages)