**A previous version of this legislation passed the House in August of 2021**

**This measure combines two pieces of vital democracy-promotion legislation — the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) voted for the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. This comprehensive voting rights legislation sets basic national standards for voting, stops partisan gerrymandering, and ends the dominance of dark money in politics.

“New Hampshire takes great pride in our voting systems which have allowed our state to lead the nation in running free, fair elections for decades. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act passed by the House of Representatives today takes some of the hallmarks of our Granite State elections — like same-day voter registration — and ensures elections across the country are held to the same high standard,” said Rep. Kuster. “The American people deserve to have full faith in our electoral system. Sadly, partisan efforts to disenfranchise communities of color and skew our elections have created distrust among voters. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and today, I was proud to help protect that right for every American.”

Specifically, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act will:

• Expand automatic voter registration and same-day registration.
• A hallmark of New Hampshire’s successful election system, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act implements same-day voter registration across the nation and expands no-excuse, vote by mail opportunities. 
• Create national standards for voter identification requirements.
• The legislation creates a uniform national standard for states that require identification for in-person voting and allows voters to present a broad set of identification cards and documents in hard copy and digital form.
• Improve election security and require post-election audits.
• The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act authorizes $3.1 billion in grants to states to make cybersecurity improvements and to replace outdated voting systems over the next decade.
• Protect elections from foreign interference.
• The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act securely expands access to voting and strengthens election infrastructure security through grant programs and enhanced cybersecurity standards.
• End partisan gerrymandering.
• The legislation requires strong, uniform rules for congressional redistricting, including a ban on partisan gerrymandering, and strengthened protections for communities of interest. 
• Make Election Day a national holiday.
• The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act creates a legal public holiday for Election Day, making it easier for people to get to the polls and exercise their constitutional right to vote.

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