Cory Booker unveils plan for new and expanded Voting Rights Act

[Skidmore]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/17/politics/cory-booker-voting-rights-act/index.html

Sen. Cory Booker is calling for a new and expanded Voting Rights Act, which would not only restore provisions of the original act, but also tackle gerrymandering and make Election Day a national holiday, among other changes.

Booker's campaign rolled out the proposal Wednesday during a campaign visit to Georgia, where Democrats have accused Republicans of working to suppress votes in the 2018 gubernatorial race between Republican Brian Kemp and Democrat Stacey Abrams. Abrams refused to officially concede and has called it a "stolen election."

One of the aims of Booker's proposal would be to "prevent the kind of voting suppression and voter roll purging we saw in Georgia last year," a release from his campaign said.

But the proposal goes beyond that, with a holistic approach to voter access. Booker would also aim to end partisan gerrymandering; implement universal voter registration and safeguards against foreign interference; and allow convicted felons to vote. Under Booker's proposal, Election Day would be designated as a national holiday....