John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025

A state would be covered after 15 voting-rights violations there over the past 25 years, by court ruling, an Attorney General objection, or an admitted settlement. Ten count if the state itself committed one, and three cover a city or county alone.

Any state or county that makes ID or paperwork rules stricter than today's law would need clearance first. The Justice Department has 60 days to object, or the change can take effect.

Closing, combining, or moving polling places would need federal clearance first. It applies in areas where two minority groups each hold 20% of voters.

In those same areas, a rule banning food or drink handouts to people in voting lines would need clearance. Spending meant to influence votes stays barred.

New ways to strike people from the voter rolls would need clearance first. That applies when a racial or language group would be removed at a notably higher rate.

The rule requiring voting materials in languages besides English was set to expire in 2032. The date would move to 2037.

Courts would weigh past discrimination and heavy ID rules, and drop "other states do this" as a defense. Rules adopted since January 1, 2021 could be challenged under a new standard.

Using force or threats to stop someone from voting, watching the polls, or running an election would be a crime. It carries up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The most a court could impose rises to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. That applies if someone is hurt, or a weapon, explosive, or fire is used.

Damaging a polling place, counting center, or election equipment to disrupt an election is covered. Threats to damage count too, but minor damage does not.

Election officials could not willfully refuse to count votes or to certify the winners. That refusal would break the same federal law that covers turning away a qualified voter.

Federal prosecutors could not bring these charges on their own. The Attorney General must certify in writing that the state cannot act or that the case serves the public interest.

Any voting change made within 180 days of a federal election must be posted within 48 hours. It goes on the state or county website, in a form blind voters can use.

States and counties must post each polling place's address, hours, machine count, and poll worker count. The notice also says whether the site is accessible to voters with disabilities.

New district maps must come with population and past vote counts within 10 days. Towns under 10,000 people can do this voluntarily.

The Justice Department would update each year which states and counties have voting-rights violations on record. That list decides who needs federal approval to change voting rules.

Election papers and records must be kept for 22 months after any federal election. That now covers every place, not just where federal observers were sent.

You could not be denied your vote for failing to follow a change. That holds when your state or county skipped the required notice.