HR 4 pertains to voting rights | Adobe Stock
HR 4 pertains to voting rights | Adobe Stock
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021, also known as HR 4, pertains to voting rights and standards states must meet to change their voting laws. It is only being sponsored by one representative from Iowa. There has nonetheless been comment from other public figures in Iowa on the bill.
Cindy Axne is the only Iowa cosponsor of the bill.
“Today is a good day to pass voting rights,” 2022 Iowa gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear said in a post to her Twitter account Jan. 18.
The bill creates new standards for deciding what states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices from the Department of Justice. An example of a voting practice would be whether or not Election Day was a holiday. HR 4 was originally introduced Aug. 7, 2021, by Rep. Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Arizona.
The bill was routed through the House Judiciary Committee and received in the Senate on Sept. 14.
A state will be subject to the extra standards for preclearance from the Department of Justice if the state has had at least 15 voting rights violations during the past 25 years, 10 violations within the past 25 years if one was committed by the state government or just three violations in 25 years if the state administers the elections.
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