Lower Bucks Today

Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) introduced the bipartisan Let America Vote Act of 2024, alongside Representatives Jared Golden (ME-2), Andrew Garbarino (NY-2), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3). The legislation aims to address election reform and integrity by ensuring voting rights for U.S. citizens while prohibiting non-citizens from participating in taxpayer-funded elections.

The bill outlines several key provisions:

1. Ensuring that U.S. citizens' right to vote is not denied based on political party affiliation.

2. Requiring states to allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections for federal office.

3. Withholding federal funds from states that do not permit unaffiliated voters to vote in state and local primaries.

4. Providing additional federal funds to support states transitioning to open primaries for unaffiliated voters.

5. Protecting the information and independence of unaffiliated voters by restricting the use of their voter data.

Additionally, the act prohibits non-citizens from voting in any taxpayer-funded election for public office in the United States or any state, with penalties including withholding federal funds from states that allow such practices.

“There is no institution more fundamental to our democracy than our elections,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick (PA-1). “Every American citizen deserves to have their voice heard, and only American citizens should have the right and responsibility to exercise their vote.”

Rep. Golden (ME-2) emphasized the importance of including unaffiliated voters: “Participating in our democracy is a central right of citizens, and voters unaffiliated with any political party deserve to have their voices heard throughout the entire political process.”

Rep. Garbarino (NY-2) reiterated that “the right to vote is reserved solely for American citizens,” while Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3) highlighted the value of independence and secure elections: “A healthy democracy depends on free, fair, and secure elections.”

Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action, supported the bill stating it would enfranchise millions of Independent Americans who are currently disenfranchised due to gerrymandering.

Ryan Clancy, No Labels Chief Strategist, added that the act could reduce extremist influence by bringing more people into the electoral process.

Nick Troiano, Executive Director of Unite America, called it "the single greatest expansion of voting rights in our country in over a half-century."

Congressman Fitzpatrick has been an advocate for election integrity since entering Congress, with efforts including FEC reform and increasing transparency in mail-in ballots.