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

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

117th Congress · introduced 2021-08-17 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Received in the Senate.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-08-17 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 2 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 259 (2021): On Motion to Recommit, HR4 (2021-08-24), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

Plain summary

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021 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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] · 223 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Angie Craig (D-MN) and 163 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] reported raising $2.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117