Bill Text: OR HJM8 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

Oregon House Joint Memorial 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Urging Congress to pass legislation requiring states to eliminate barriers to voting.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Failed) 2013-07-08 - In committee upon adjournment. [HJM8 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HJM8-Introduced.html



     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .

 LC 3654

                     House Joint Memorial 8

Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON RULES (at the request of Representative
  Michael Dembrow)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Urges Congress to pass legislation requiring states to
eliminate barriers to voting.

                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United
  States of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas obstacles posed by voting laws that are unduly
burdensome, inconsistent or unclear have kept millions of
Americans from casting ballots in recent elections; and
  Whereas in 2011 many state legislatures considered and passed
laws under the guise of preventing voter fraud and preserving
election integrity despite a lack of evidence that voter fraud
has a meaningful impact on the outcome of elections in the United
States; and
  Whereas studies have shown that although up to 11 percent of
United States citizens lack government-issued photo
identification, more than 30 states have considered laws that
would require voters to present such identification in order to
vote; and
  Whereas many states have passed laws requiring proof of
citizenship in order to register to vote, laws shortening early
voting time frames, laws forbidding election day registration and
laws making it more difficult for third-party organizations to
register voters, all of which contribute to lower voter
registration and turnout rates; and
  Whereas federal law guarantees all United States citizens the
right to vote; and
  Whereas the State of Oregon is committed to ensuring that
citizens do not remain or become disenfranchised and has taken
steps to make voting and registering to vote both simple and
accessible; and
  Whereas expanding rather than diminishing voter access should
be a common goal toward which all states aspire; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:

  (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to
pass legislation requiring all states to eliminate barriers to
voter participation in the electoral process.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to each member of the
Oregon Congressional Delegation.
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