WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susan Davis joined her Democratic colleagues to introduce the Voter Empowerment Act to protect the right of Americans to choose their government.

The Voter Empowerment Act includes language from two Davis bills – the Universal Vote by Mail Act to eliminate barriers to voting by absentee ballot and the Election Integrity Act to prohibit top elections officials from participating in the political campaigns whose results they oversee.

The comprehensive bill would increase voting opportunities and strengthen overall the voting process in every state by modernizing the voter registration system, assisting voters with disabilities, protecting voters from deceptive practices and setting standards for voting equipment.

“Long lines and reports of voter disenfranchisement are becoming all too common in the country seen as the beacon of democracy for the rest of the world,” said Davis. “A priority of the government should be to eliminate barriers to voting because our nation is stronger when we’re all involved in the decision-making. Too many Americans are being left out of a process in which they have a constitutional right to participate because of antiquated rules, inefficient procedures and a lack of voter protection—we can do better for our voters and our democracy.”

The Voter Empowerment Act would also:Ensure online voter registration – San Diego County recently allowed online registration with successful results.

• Allow same day registration.
• Encourage young people to vote with access to voter registration at universities.
• Ensure military and overseas Americans’ ballots are counted.

In Congress, Davis has been a leader in election reform. In the 111th Congress, the House passed two of Davis’s bills – The Federal Election Integrity Act and the Absentee Ballot Track, Receive, and Confirm Act, which helps states establish a system to allow voters to track their absentee ballot.  Davis’s hallmark election bill, the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act, has passed the House Administration Committee twice.