Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections and campaign finance law, and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rules Committee Chairwoman, and every other Senate Democrat to introduce the Freedom to Vote Act. This legislation improves Americans’ access to the ballot, invests in state election infrastructure, strengthens campaign finance disclosure requirements, and ensures our elections are free from interference.
“The promise of American democracy demands free and fair elections — where every voice is heard and every vote counts. The Freedom to Vote Act would ban partisan gerrymandering, promote secure elections, address our broken campaign finance system, and make it easier for Americans in every state to cast a ballot. We should pass this legislation to ensure generations to come can enjoy a stronger, healthier democracy,” said Bennet.
“Americans shouldn’t have to wait in hour-long lines or risk losing their jobs to vote. Colorado already proved that more people vote when it’s easy and flexible, now it’s time to take our gold-standard elections national,” said Hickenlooper.
“The freedom to vote is fundamental to all of our freedoms, and as we continue to see unprecedented attacks on our democracy in states across the country, it is clear we must take action. These attacks demand a federal response,” said Klobuchar. “The Freedom to Vote Act will set basic national standards to make sure all Americans can cast their ballots in the way that works best for them, regardless of what zip code they live in. This bill will ensure Americans can request a mail-in ballot and have access to drop boxes, have at least two weeks of early voting, and can register to vote on Election Day.”
The legislation reflects feedback from state and local election officials to ensure the people responsible for implementing reforms are able to do so effectively. It also elevates the voices of American voters by ending partisan gerrymandering and helps eliminate the influence of dark money in our elections.
Bennet is a leading advocate for reforming campaign finance and increasing trust in our elections. In February, Bennet joined colleagues to reintroduce the DISCLOSE Act to strengthen disclosure requirements for organizations spending money in elections. In 2021, he introduced the ZOMBIE Act to require politicians no longer running for office to close their old campaign accounts. In 2019, he introduced a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United by restoring authority to Congress, states, and the American people to regulate campaign finance. He is also the lead author of the Close the Revolving Door Act, which would permanently ban former Members of Congress from working as lobbyists.
In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Klobuchar, this bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Va.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbe Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The text of the bill is available HERE.