Protecting the Right to Vote
I am a leader in the fight to ensure that every American can vote without fear of disenfranchisement. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, in 2014 so far, more than 190 bills restricting the right to vote have already been introduced in 31 states. Additionally, in June, the Supreme Court’s rejection of Section 4 of the landmark Voting Right Act put the rights of voters across the nation at risk.
I believe a country built on the foundation of civic participation should never tolerate any politically-motivated threats to our ability to express our views at the polls. That is why I introduced legislation, the Pocan Ellison Right to Vote Amendment, which would explicitly guarantee the right to vote in the Constitution, provide all Americans the affirmative right to vote, and empower Congress to protect this right. A voting rights amendment would positively affirm our founding principle that our country is at its strongest when everyone participates.
More on Protecting the Right to Vote
Madison, WI — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) issued the following statement after the United States Supreme Court blocked Wisconsin’s voter ID law pending an appeal:
“I am relieved the Supreme Court has recognized the damage Wisconsin’s Voter ID law could have on our democracy,” said Rep. Mark Pocan. “Poorly implementing a bad law would have been the worst possible outcome for Wisconsin voters. Implementing Voter ID in such a short amount of time would have disenfranchised voters across the state and could have brought the 2014 election results into question.”
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans advanced S.J. Res. 19, which would overturn the Supreme Court's Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. FEC decisions and allow Congress to enact commonsense limits on campaign spending. Rep.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-4), Congressman Ron Kind (WI-3) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-2) sent a letter to United States Attorney General Eric Holder applauding his decision to fight voter disenfranchisement in Wisconsin, specifically Act 23, Wisconsin’s voter identification law.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today issued the following statement on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin’s ruling that Wisconsin’s voter identification law unfairly burdens disadvantaged and minority voters:
MADISON, WI—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which featured Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivering his historic “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Madison, WI–In order to help provide local small business owners with the tools to increase their foreign sales and grow their businesses, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) will host an Exporter Forum with Fred P. Hochberg, the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), on Wednesday, August 28, at the Accelerator Building on 5602 Research Park Boulevard in Madison; 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. South African officials will also be on hand to discuss potential trade opportunities.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), authors of the Right to Vote Amendment that would provide an affirmative constitutional right to vote for all Americans, today issued the following statement after the Supreme Court rejected Section 4 of the landmark Voting Right Act, which contains a formula to determine specified jurisdictions that need federal government approval before making voting changes that could be racially discriminatory. In its ruling on Shelby County v. Holder, the Court determined that the current formula was outdated.
MADISON, WI—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Budget Committee, today commented on the monthly jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the report, the economy added 175,000 jobs in May.
MADISON, WI—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released the following statement after the 4th District Court of Appeals overturned a decision by the Dane County Circuit Court, which had originally ruled that the state’s Voter ID law violated the Wisconsin constitution.
MADISON, WI—U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today announced legislation to explicitly guarantee the right to vote in the Constitution. The Pocan-Ellison Right to Vote Amendment would amend the Constitution to provide all Americans the affirmative right to vote and empower Congress to protect this right.