(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) In a push to simultaneously promote ease of ballot access while also increasing personal liberty, Republican Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., has introduced the House version of the Securing Enfranchisement and the Rights of Voters regardless of Inoculation Status (SERVIS) Act.
The bill makes it unlawful to “require or impose a requirement that a voter or voters must present a vaccine passport or otherwise present information regarding their vaccination status in order to exercise the right to vote, including to vote in person, in any election involving any candidate for Federal office,” according to Townhall’s first-look at the proposal:
The bill makes it unlawful to “require or impose a requirement that a voter or voters must present a vaccine passport or otherwise present information regarding their vaccination status in order to exercise the right to vote, including to vote in person, in any election involving any candidate for Federal office.”
The bill also addresses masks, which may only be required if they are readily available free of charge to provide for people at the polling site if they do not have their own and if exceptions are made for those with disabilities.
“Democrats have used unconstitutional COVID mandates to disrupt Americans’ lives for two years,” Bishop told Townhall.
“They’ve used vaccine requirements, in particular, to get people fired from their jobs or excluded from public life. It’s not hard to imagine that these lockdown authoritarians will try to keep Americans from the voting booth based on vaccine status next,” Bishop said.
“We cannot allow this to happen – that’s why I’m proud to join Sen. Cruz in this fight. Now is the time to stand up for liberty.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who introduced the Senate SERVIS Act, highlighted that both proposals would prove particular benefit to ensuring ease of ballot access for black voters.
“In 48 states, the proportion of African-Americans who are vaccinated is below the population share of African Americans,” Cruz said in a press release.
“This legislation would ensure they’re not denied their constitutional right to the ballot box,” he said.
