WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the DC Council voted on two major pieces of legislation introduced by Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau that will expand democracy, protect reproductive rights, and elevate the District’s commitment to inclusivity. The Council voted to advance the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 and the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022.
The Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 will expand voting rights in local elections to eligible residents of the District who are not United States citizens. The newly qualified electors will be able to vote in elections for Mayor, DC Council, State Board of Education, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and Attorney General. They will not be able to vote in Federal elections.
“Every day, as elected officials, we are making decisions about affordable housing, education, human services and city services that impact the daily lives of all residents. Those who have made the District their permanent home should have a say in who represents them in their local government. We must continue to work toward more inclusive democracy and full participation in our elections,” said Nadeau.
In 2019, Councilmember Nadeau was proud to introduce the Vote By Mail Amendment Act to require the Board of Election to mail all registered voters a ballot. This bill has been incorporated into the Elections Modernization Act of 2021 by Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, along with provisions for providing alternatives for voters with disabilities, drop boxes requirements, and establishing ballot tracking. The Elections Modernization Act of 2021 passed the first of the required two votes today.
Nadeau also celebrates the Council taking the first of two votes on the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022. The legislation protects the rights of those seeking care for abortion, contraception, sexual conduct, intimate relationships, and gender-affirmation. The bill will also prevent the District government from cooperating or facilitating investigations or proceedings that try to prosecute any individual seeking any of these protected acts. It also extends protections by creating a private right of action against parties who bring Texas-style bounty claims against others for engaging in protected conduct.
After Politico circulated a draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization foreshadowing that the Supreme Court would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion, Nadeau promised District residents that she would take legislative action to defend the rights protected in Roe v. Wade and moved to introduce the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 as soon as possible.
“As we see more and more basic rights being curtailed by conservative courts, the DC Council has affirmed that the District will remain a place people can seek comprehensive healthcare and expect their privacy to be protected,” said Nadeau, “We don’t yet know what’s on the horizon, but we will be ready.”
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