WASHINGTON, DC (July 27, 2023) — Today, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) joined Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), and Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) in introducing the Democracy Restoration Act of 2023 (DRA), historic legislation which would end the permanent denial of voting rights nationwide to individuals with criminal convictions who have been released from incarceration and have fulfilled their custodial sentence.

“Voting is a fundamental right of citizenship, and every American should have an equal voice in our democracy,” said Congresswoman Foushee (NC-04). “Our country has a long history of weaponizing incarceration status, and the permanent denial of voting rights based on criminal convictions is a remnant of Jim Crow-era voting bans aimed to disenfranchise communities of color. Reforming voter disenfranchisement in the United States is long overdue, and I will continue to fight for a country where democracy can flourish and where the fundamental right to vote is protected for all Americans.”

The co-leads of the Democracy Restoration Act in the United States House of Representatives include Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Congressman Troy Carter (LA-02), Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), and Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10).The Democracy Restoration Act was also introduced in the United States Senate on May 18, 2023, by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).
 

The full text of the Democracy Restoration Act is available here.