Los congresistas García y Scanlon presentan proyecto de ley para facilitar el registro de votantes en viviendas subsidiadas
Washington, DC– Hoy el Congresista Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) y la Congresista Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) presentaron la Ley Our Homes Our Votes, un proyecto de ley que facilita el registro de votantes para los residentes de viviendas subsidiadas por el gobierno federal al permitirles para registrarse para votar mientras firman su contrato de arrendamiento. El proyecto de ley tiene 18 copatrocinadores originales.
Las disposiciones de la Ley Our Homes Our Votes reflejan la popular Ley Nacional de Registro de Votantes de 1993 o la “Ley de Votantes de Motor”, que permite a los votantes elegibles registrarse para votar directamente en el DMV a medida que obtienen o renuevan su licencia de conducir. Este proyecto de ley extiende el concepto a los inquilinos en viviendas subsidiadas administradas por una autoridad de vivienda pública que, al igual que los clientes del DMV, ya han tenido su identidad y residencia examinadas por las autoridades públicas.
La participación de los votantes de bajos ingresos regularmente se retrasa en 20 puntos porcentuales en la participación de los de ingresos más altos, aunque los votantes de bajos ingresos obtuvieron ganancias en las últimas elecciones.
La ley Our Homes Our Votes:
- Permite que los inquilinos elegibles e interesados en viviendas subsidiadas administradas por una Agencia de Vivienda Pública (PHA) se registren para votar mientras firman su documento de arrendamiento sin proporcionar información duplicada;
- Requiere que las PHA transmitan estos formularios de registro de votantes a las autoridades electorales locales de manera oportuna;
- Designa a los propietarios privados de viviendas subsidiadas como “agentes de registro de votantes” responsables de distribuir los formularios de registro de votantes y ayudar a los inquilinos a completarlos si es necesario.
“La mejor manera de lograr la promesa de nuestro país de ‘una persona por voto’ es facilitar que todos voten. Es por eso que presento la Ley Our Homes Our Votes. Este proyecto de ley facilitará el registro de votantes para los residentes de viviendas subsidiadas por el gobierno federal. Los inquilinos ya tienen su identidad y residencia verificadas cuando firman su contrato de arrendamiento, por lo que si son elegibles para votar deberían poder hacerlo fácilmente ”, dijo el Congresista García. “La gente luchó y murió por el derecho al voto en nuestro país, pero los residentes de distritos de clase trabajadora como el mío todavía enfrentan demasiadas barreras para votar. Creo que deberíamos ayudar a las comunidades de bajos ingresos a votar con el mismo número que las comunidades de mayores ingresos; entonces tendremos políticas que ayuden a todos ”.
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Reps. García and Scanlon Introduce Bill to Facilitate Voter Registration in Subsidized Housing
Washington, DC — Today Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) introduced the Our Homes Our Votes Act, a bill that facilitates voter registration for residents of federally subsidized housing by allowing them to register to vote as they sign their lease. The bill has 18 original cosponsors.
The provisions of the Our Homes Our Votes Act mirror the popular National Voter Registration Act of 1993 or “Motor Voter Law,” which allows eligible voters to register to vote directly at the DMV as they obtain or renew their drivers’ license. This bill extends the concept to tenants in subsidized housing administered by a public housing authority who, like customers at the DMV, have already had their identity and residence vetted by public authorities.
Low income voter turnout regularly lags higher income turnout by 20 percentage points, though low income voters made gains in the last election.
The Our Homes Our Votes Act:
- Allows eligible and interested tenants in subsidized housing administered by a Public Housing Agency (PHA) to register to vote as they sign their lease document without providing duplicate information;
Requires PHA’s to transmit these voter registration forms to local election authorities in a timely manner;
- Designates private landlords of subsidized housing as “voter registration agents” responsible for distributing voter registration forms and helping tenants fill them out if needed.
“The best way to achieve our country’s promise of ‘one person one vote’ is to make it easier for everyone to vote. That’s why I’m introducing the Our Homes Our Votes Act. This bill will facilitate voter registration for residents of federally subsidized housing. Tenants already have their identity and residence verified when they sign their lease, so if they are eligible to vote they should be able to do so easily,” said Congressman García. “People fought and died for the right to vote in our country, but residents of working-class districts like mine still face too many barriers to vote. I believe we should help low income communities vote with the same numbers as higher income communities–then we will have policies that help everyone.”
“When we make it easier for eligible voters to register and vote, more people are able to make their voices heard and claim their power in our democracy,” Congresswoman Scanlon said. “This bill builds upon the foundation established by the National Voter Registration Act by expanding voter registration opportunities. If you can register to vote while updating your driver’s license, why can’t you when signing a lease at a Public Housing Agency? It’s just that simple.”
“The Our Homes, Our Votes Act is a simple solution to one of the most persistent voter disparities in our democracy,” said Diane Yentel, president & CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “Renters care deeply about voting, but they have more barriers to doing so successfully. One of the most common reasons renters vote at lower rates is that they move more frequently than homeowners, and they have to update their voter registration at each new address. This bill will make it clear to all public housing agencies and other housing providers who use federal housing subsidies that voter registration is an important part of the lease-up process. We applaud Representatives Chuy García and Mary Gay Scanlon for their leadership on this innovative proposal. Our democracy is strongest when it includes the most voices; the Our Homes, Our Votes Act will boost the participation of low-income renters in a meaningful and impactful way.”
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