H.R. 4John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

2 recorded actions232 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Terri A. Sewell [D-AL-07]
Cosponsors: 223 · 223 Democrats
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Committee: Judiciary Committee
Latest action: Sep 14, 2021 · Received in the Senate.

IntroducedAug 17, 2021
Passed the HouseAug 24, 2021
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.

A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if

15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state during the previous 25 years;
10 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself; or
3 or more violations occurred during the previous 25 years and the state administers the elections.

A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years.

States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as changes to methods of election and redistricting.

Further, states and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.

Next, the bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights.

The bill also outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 4 as passed House on Aug 24, 2021. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 42 roll calls on this measure

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Aug 24, 2021Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveAug 24, 2021

How every member votedHouse roll call 260

House Aug 24, 2021 · the primary vote

On Passage

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

Passed

219 Yea 212 Nay 1 not voting

Party-line vote No voting member broke with their own party.

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How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

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All members432 members

Democratic220 members

Republican212 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors223 · 223 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 4 and vote against it. 191 signed when it was filed.

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 461 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 4 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Agriculture · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Education +2 more10 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY DBA DOWfiled by THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, DBA DOW

Energy/Nuclear · Environment/Superfund · Homeland Security · Science/Technology +11 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CTW-CLC

Health Issues · Medicare/Medicaid · Budget/Appropriations · Economics/Economic Development +17 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATIONIts PAC: Boston Scientific Corp. PAC

Health Issues · Budget/Appropriations · Veterans · Trade (domestic/foreign) +3 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

NETWORKfiled by NETWORK LOBBY FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE

Housing · Budget/Appropriations · Homeland Security · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +11 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

COALITION ON HUMAN NEEDS

Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Defense +10 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

UNITED AUTOMOBILE AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERSfiled by UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS

Automotive Industry · Budget/Appropriations · Defense · Energy/Nuclear +14 more7 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Disaster Planning/Emergencies +15 more6 filings · 2nd Quarter (Apr 1 - June 30) 2022Filing

END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUNDfiled by END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUND, FKA END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND

Government Issues · Constitution · Media (information/publishing) · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +1 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGNIts PAC: Human Rights Campaign PAC

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Health Issues · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Defense +6 more6 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

227 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-04. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.