,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ciaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ab1 #bjbd,mr4 ,ossoff 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,warnock1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,mr4 ,wyden7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,rules and ,administration ,a ,,bill ,protecting the right to vote in elections for ,federal office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,right to ,vote ,act4 #b4 ,undue burdens on the ability to vote in elections for ,federal office prohibited 7a7 ,in general ,every citizen of legal voting age shall have the fundamental right to vote in elections for ,federal office4 7b7 ,retrogression ,a government may not diminish the ability to vote in an election for ,federal office unless the law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action causing the diminishment is the least restrictive means of significantly furthering an important1 particularized government interest4 7c7 ,substantial impairment ,a government may not substantially impair the ability to vote in an election for ,federal office unless the law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action causing the impairment significantly furthers an important1 particularized governmental interest4 ,a substantial impairment is a non-trivial impairment that makes it more difficult to vote than if the law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action had not been adopted or implemented4 ,an impairment may be substantial even if the voter or other similarly situated voters are able to vote notwithstanding the impairment4 #c4 ,judicial review 7a7 ,civil action ,an action challenging a violation of the rights created by this ,act may be brought in the district court for the ,district of ,columbia1 or the district court for the district in which the violation took place or where any defendant resides or does business1 at the selection of the plaintiff1 to obtain all appropriate relief1 whether declaratory or injunctive1 or facial or as-applied4 ,process may be served in any district where a defendant resides1 does business1 or may be found4 7b7 ,standards ,to be applied ,courts adjudicating actions brought to enforce the rights created by this ,act shall apply the following standards3 7#a7 ,retrogression 7,a7 ,a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of retrogression by demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that a rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action diminishes the ability1 or otherwise makes it more difficult1 to vote4 7,b7 ,once a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case as described in subparagraph 7,a71 the government shall be provided an opportunity to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the diminishment is necessary to significantly further an important1 particularized governmental interest4 7,c7 ,if the government meets its burden under subparagraph 7,b71 the challenged rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action shall nonetheless be deemed invalid if the plaintiff demonstrates by a preponderance of the evidence that the government could adopt or implement a less-restrictive means of furthering the particular important governmental interest4 7#b7 ,substantial ,impairment 7,a7 ,a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case of substantial impairment by demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that a rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action substantially impairs the ability1 or makes it substantially difficult1 to vote4 7,b7 ,once a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case as described in subparagraph 7,a71 the government shall be provided an opportunity to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the impairment significantly furthers an important1 particularized governmental interest4 7c7 ,duty ,to expedite ,it shall be the duty of the court to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest reasonable extent the disposition of the action and appeal under this section4 7d7 ,attorney's fees ,section #gbb7;b7 of the ,revised ,statutes 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aihh7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking or section #djcjb and inserting section #djcjb2 and 7#b7 by striking 1 the court and inserting 1 or the ,right to ,vote ,act1 the court4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 the term covered entity means the ,district of ,columbia1 the ,commonwealth of ,puerto ,rico1 and each territory and possession of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 the terms election and ,federal office have the meanings given such terms in section #cja of the ,federal ,election ,campaign ,act of #aiga 7#eb ,u4,s4,c4 #cjaja72 7#c7 the term government includes a branch1 department1 agency1 instrumentality1 and official 7or other person acting under color of law7 of the ,united ,states1 of any ,state1 of any covered entity1 or of any political subdivision of any ,state or covered entity2 and 7#d7 the term vote means all actions necessary to make a vote effective1 including registration or other action required by law as a prerequisite to voting1 casting a ballot1 and having such ballot counted and included in the appropriate totals of votes cast with respect to candidates for public office for which votes are received in an election4 #e4 ,rules of construction 7a7 ,burdens not authorized ,nothing in this ,act may be construed to authorize a government to burden the right to vote in elections for ,federal office4 7b7 ,other rights and remedies ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of ,congress to alter any rights existing under a ,state constitution or the ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 or to limit any remedies for any other violations of ,federal1 ,state1 or local law4 7c7 ,other provision ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed as conflicting with section #agjc 78,rights of ,citizens07 of ,s4#a of the #aahth ,congress4 #f4 ,severability ,if any provision of this ,act or the application of such provision to any citizen or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional1 the remainder of this ,act and the application of the provisions of such to any citizen or circumstance shall not be affected thereby4 #g4 ,effective dates 7a7 ,actions brought for retrogression ,subsection 7b7 of section #b shall apply to any law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action that was not in effect during the ,november #bjbb general election for ,federal office but that will be in effect with respect to elections for ,federal office occurring on or after ,september #a1 #bjbd1 even if such law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action is already in effect as of the date of enactment of this ,act4 7b7 ,actions brought for substantial impairment ,subsection 7c7 of section #b shall apply to any law1 rule1 standard1 practice1 procedure1 or other governmental action in effect with respect to elections for ,federal office occurring on or after ,september #a1 #bjbd4