S. 2523 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jul 29, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens federal oversight of voting law changes
This bill creates a new system where certain states and cities must get approval from the Department of Justice or a federal court before changing their voting rules. A state would need this approval for 10 years if it had 15 or more voting rights violations in the previous 25 years, or 10 or more violations with at least one by the state itself. Individual cities or counties would need approval if they had three or more violations in that same 25-year period. The bill also requires states and cities to notify the public about voting changes and gives the Department of Justice power to request documents and information to enforce voting rights.
How it affects you
If you live in a state or city that meets these violation thresholds, any major voting practice changes—like new redistricting maps or new voting rules—would have to be approved by federal authorities before taking effect, which could slow down when those changes happen. The bill also adds protections for election workers, polling places, and election systems. For most voters, the main effect would be that voting law changes in affected areas face additional federal review before they can be implemented.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jul 29, 2025)
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
This bill establishes new criteria for determining which states and political subdivisions must obtain preclearance before changes to voting practices may take effect. Preclearance is the process of receiving preapproval from the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before making legal changes that would affect voting rights.
A state and all of its political subdivisions shall be subject to preclearance of voting practice changes for a 10-year period if, during the previous 25 years:
• 15 or more voting rights violations occurred in the state; or
• 10 or more violations occurred, at least 1 of which was committed by the state itself.
A political subdivision as a separate unit shall also be subject to preclearance for a 10-year period if three or more voting rights violations occurred there during the previous 25 years.
States and political subdivisions that meet certain thresholds regarding minority groups must preclear covered practices before implementation, such as redistricting.
States and political subdivisions must notify the public of changes to voting practices.
The bill authorizes DOJ to require states or political subdivisions to provide certain documents or answers to questions for enforcing voting rights.
The bill outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.
The bill also includes certain protections for election workers, polling places, and election infrastructure.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 2523
A BILL
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) · Introduced Jul 29, 2025 · Government Operations and Politics · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 29, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S4821)”
Sections
Sections · 1
Title I — Amendments to the Voting Rights Act · 18
- Sec. 101Vote dilution, denial, and abridgment claimsNo change
- Sec. 102RetrogressionNo change
- Sec. 103Violations triggering authority of court to retain jurisdictionNo change
- Sec. 104Criteria for coverage of States and political subdivisionsNo change
- Sec. 105Determination of States and Political Subdivisions Subject to Preclearance for Covered PracticesNo change
- Sec. 106Promoting transparency to enforce the Voting Rights ActNo change
- Sec. 107Authority to assign observersNo change
- Sec. 108Clarification of authority to seek reliefNo change
- Sec. 109Preventive reliefNo change
- Sec. 110Bilingual election requirementsNo change
- Sec. 111Relief for violations of voting rights lawsNo change
- Sec. 112Protection of tabulated votesNo change
- Sec. 113Enforcement of Voting Rights by Attorney GeneralNo change
- Sec. 114DefinitionsNo change
- Sec. 115Attorneys’ feesNo change
- Sec. 116Other technical and conforming amendmentsNo change
- Sec. 117SeverabilityNo change
- Sec. 118Grants to assist with notice requirements under the Voting Rights Act of 1965No change