Introduction of the Vote At Home Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, Oregon has led the nation in defending the right to vote, which is the very cornerstone of our democracy. Vote at home laws have been extremely successful at increasing voter turnout all while upholding strong security standards. That is why today I introduced the Vote at Home Act.

This legislation will bring Oregon's model nationwide and strengthen the fundamental right to vote that is so central to our democratic process. Nearly 50 percent of voters used a vote-at-home ballot in the November 2020 election, an all-time high in federal races. It is time to build on the innovative electoral reforms expanding access to the right to vote.

The Vote at Home Act updates the Vote by Mail Act, which I first introduced with Senator Wyden in 2017, to promote the ability of voters to vote by mail, expand options for casting ballots, fund the U.S. Postal Service by covering the costs associated with mailing ballots both to and from voters in federal elections, and enact automatic voter registration. Under this legislation, all registered voters would receive ballots in the mail weeks before Election Day, allowing them to carefully research candidates and issues ahead of Election Day to inform their vote. States would be required to ensure that each citizen who provides identifying information to the state motor vehicle authority is automatically registered to vote. Voters are given 21 days to opt out if they do not wish to be registered to vote.

This crucial legislation is a nation-wide effort and is endorsed by voting rights groups including Common Cause, Fair Fight Action, Demand Progress, End Citizens United, Sojourners, Stand Up America, and People for the American Way.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to enact this legislation and finally establish access to voting at home nationwide.

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