2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against An Election Integrity And
Voting Rights Package. In January 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res
868) that would provide for floor consideration of the House amendment
to the Senate amendment to the legislative vehicle (HR 5746) for voting
rights legislation. It would provide for up to one hour of debate on a
motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, with a further
House amendment." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House
adopted the rule by a vote of 220-202. [House Vote 8,
1/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5746;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
868]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against An Election Integrity And
Voting Rights Package. In January 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous
question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule
(H Res 868) that would provide for floor consideration of the House
amendment to the Senate amendment to the legislative vehicle (HR 5746)
for voting rights legislation. It would provide for up to one hour of
debate on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill, with a
further House amendment." The vote was on a motion to order the previous
question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 220-201. [House
Vote 7, 1/12/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
1/12/22; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
5746;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
868]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Expanded Disclosure Requirements For Large Campaign Contributions,
Required Reporting Of Foreign Contracts To The FBI, And Prohibited The
Creation Of Corporations To Hide Foreign Election Contributions. In
January 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
against concurring in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to the
Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part would "expand
disclosure requirements for large campaign contributions, require
candidates and political committees to report foreign contacts to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and prohibit the creation of
corporations to conceal foreign election contributions." The vote was on
a motion to concur. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 220-203,
thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate subsequently failed to
invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
The Freedom To Vote Act Would Regulate Campaign Finance By
Limiting Dark Money By Political Action Committees And Requiring
Groups That Spend Over $10K To Disclose Their Donors. According
to NPR, "It would also impose new rules on how campaigns are paid
for by limiting the use of so-called dark money by political action
committees. Any group that spends more than $10,000 to influence an
election would be required to disclose all donors." [NPR,
1/18/22]
The Freedom To Vote Act Would Fortify The Federal Election
Commission's Authority To Investigate Campaign Abuse Charges And
Require The Replacement Of Outdated Voting Machines With Machines
That Provide Voters Paper Receipts Of Their Ballots. According to
NPR, "The measure would also strengthen the Federal Election
Commission's ability to investigate charges of campaign abuses and
require that states replace outdated voting machines with ones that,
among other things, provide voters with paper records of their
ballots." [NPR,
1/18/22]
The Bill Required Additional Campaign Finance Disclosures,
Strengthened Prohibitions On Foreign Spending On Elections,
Including Ballot Initiatives, And Required Additional Disclosures On
Money Sources For Political Groups That Spend To Influence
Elections. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill also
includes provisions that would require more disclosures of political
money. It would toughen prohibitions on foreign nationals' spending
on elections, including on ballot initiatives, and would require
additional disclosures of the sources of money for groups that spend
to influence elections." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/13/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Required States To Permit Online And Same-Day Voter Registration,
Automatically Register Voters, Permit Early Voting, Enact A
Ballot-Tracking Program For All Absentee Ballots, Require Paper Ballot
Voting, And Expand Valid Forms Of Voter Identification. In January
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
concurring in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom
to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part would "require states to allow
online and same-day registration, automatically register eligible
voters, allow early voting at least 15 days before election day, carry
out a program to track and confirm receipt of all absentee ballots,
require voting via paper ballots, and accept certain alternate forms of
voter identification." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House
agreed to the motion by a vote of 220-203, thus the bill was sent to the
Senate. The Senate subsequently failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote
9, 1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Established Election Day As A Federal Holiday And Improved Voter Access
For People With Disabilities. In January 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the
Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom to Vote: John R.
Lewis Act, which in part would "make Election Day a federal holiday and
include provisions to improve voter access for individuals with
disabilities." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House agreed to
the motion by a vote of 220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate.
The Senate subsequently failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which Would
Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Enforcement By Restoring Preclearance
Requirements Under The Voting Rights Act. In January 2022, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the
Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom to Vote: John R.
Lewis Act, which "Among other provisions to strengthen
anti-discrimination enforcement authorities in relation to voting
practices, the bill would effectively restore preclearance requirements
under the Voting Rights Act for any changes to voting practices in
states and localities with a history of voting rights violations in the
previous 25 years. It would establish formulas to identify such
jurisdictions, which would be required to submit proposed changes to the
Justice Department for preclearance before implementation." The vote was
on a motion to concur. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of
220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate subsequently
failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Required States And Localities To Review Election Practices To Identify
Regulations That May Hinder Voting Rights And Subject Such Practices To
Federal Preclearance, And Expanded Justice Department Authority To
Assign Federal Election Observers. In January 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the
Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom to Vote: John R.
Lewis Act, which in part would "require states and localities to review
election practices to identify any practices that could impact the
ability to vote based on race, color or language minority group and
subject any such practices to federal preclearance. It would expand
Justice Department authority to assign federal election observers to
ensure compliance with federal voting rights protections." The vote was
on a motion to concur. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of
220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate subsequently
failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
The Bill Required States To Have A Specific Governmental Interest
For Implementing Election Changes That Could Substantially Affect
Voting Rights And Such Changes Would Need To Be The Least
Restrictive Way To Achieve Their Governmental Interest. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "The new language would require states
to have an important and specific government interest if they want
to implement election changes that would substantially impair the
right to vote or have the vote be counted. And those election
changes would have to be the least restrictive way of accomplishing
that interest." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/13/22]
The Bill Defined "Substantial Impairment" As A Mechanism That Were
To Make It More Difficult To Vote Or Have Their Vote Counted, Even
If Voters Were Able To Vote And Have Their Votes Counted Under
Electoral Changes. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill
also includes new language that would define a substantial
impairment as 'one that makes it more difficult to vote or have
one's vote counted,' even if the voters are able to vote and have it
counted under those changes." [Congressional Quarterly,
1/13/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Established Redistricting Criteria To Prevent Partisan Gerrymandering
And Protect Political Participation Of Minorities. In January 2022,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
concurring in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom
to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part would "establish uniform
criteria for states' congressional redistricting plans to prevent
partisan gerrymandering and protect political participation of minority
groups." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The
Senate subsequently failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
The Freedom To Vote Act Was A Broad Measure That Affected
Congressional Redistricting And Campaign Finance. According to
NPR, "The second bill the Senate is considering is the Freedom to
Vote Act. It's a more sweeping measure of the two, and would affect
everything from the way congressional districts are drawn to how
campaigns are financed." [NPR,
1/18/22]
The Freedom To Vote Act Would Prohibit Partisan Gerrymandering And
Limit How States May Conduct Voter Purges From Voter Checklists.
According to NPR, "The measure would also outlaw partisan
gerrymandering --- that is, drawing congressional boundaries to the
political advantage of one party or another --- and would limit the
ways states can purge people from voting rolls." [NPR,
1/18/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Prohibited Intimidating Individuals From Registering To Vote, Engaging
In Voter Intimidation And Harassment Of Election Workers, And
Restricting Food And Non-Alcoholic Drinks At Polling Locations. In
January 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
against concurring in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to the
Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part would "prohibit any
attempt to prevent an individual from registering to vote, prohibit
certain practices related to voter intimidation and harassment of
election workers, and prohibit states from restricting the provision of
food and nonalcoholic beverages at polling locations." The vote was on a
motion to concur. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 220-203,
thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate subsequently failed to
invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which
Established Public Financing Systems For Presidential And Congressional
Campaigns And Created A Public Financing Voucher Pilot Program In Three
States. In January 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the Senate amendment with a
House amendment to the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part
would "modify or establish public financing mechanisms for presidential
and congressional election campaigns that would match 600% of each
contribution of up to $200 for candidates whose campaigns do not accept
contributions of more than $1,000 per individual donor and do not use
more than $50,000 of the candidate's personal funds. It would create a
public financing voucher pilot program in three states, under which each
eligible voter could donate $25 in public funding credit to House
candidates." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The
Senate subsequently failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Freedom To Vote Act, Which Would
Require States And Localities To Provide Public Notice Of Voting
Procedure Changes Within 180 Days Of A Federal Election. In January
2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against
concurring in the Senate amendment with a House amendment to the Freedom
to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which in part would "require states and
localities to provide public notice regarding any changes to voting
procedures made within 180 days of a federal election, and regarding
updated demographic data following any electoral district boundary
changes." The vote was on a motion to concur. The House agreed to the
motion by a vote of 220-203, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The
Senate subsequently failed to invoke cloture. [House Vote 9,
1/13/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/13/22; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5746]