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US Senator Dick Durbin calls on colleagues to support voting rights legislation

US Senator Dick Durbin is calling on the Senate to support voting rights legislation that will be presented this week.

In response to the January 6th insurrection anniversary US Senator Dick Durbin addressed the Senate to garner support for two voting rights acts.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act will be presented to the Senate this week.

The acts will strengthen the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and establish minimum standards for voting access in all states.

Senator Durbin says passing these laws will prevent restricting voter rights.

“Both of these measures are simple, sensible and popular. Together, they will protect every eligible voters access to the ballot box. There's no guarantee that more people turning up to vote are all going to vote for Democrats or even for Republicans But isn't it the nature of a democracy to leave it to the American people to make that choice?”

The Freedom to Vote Act also establishes Election Day as a Federal Holiday and allows same-day voter registration.

Benjy Jeffords is a digital media production specialist at WSIU Public Broadcasting located at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Contact WSIU Radio at 618-453-6101 or email wsiunews@wsiu.org
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