Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke released a sweeping plan to boost voting rights that includes term limits for members of Congress and Supreme Court justices, banning political action committees from contributing to campaigns, and making Election Day a holiday.
The proposal aims to increase voter registration by 50 million voters over and undefined term and raise voter turnout to 65%. He projects that the changes would lead to 35 million new voters by 2024.
“We’re facing some of the greatest challenges of our lifetimes, and we can’t solve them with half-measures or only half our people — it’s going to take all of us,” O’Rourke said in a statement Wednesday. “The only way to make progress is if every single American is empowered to vote — and those who have historically been drawn out of our democracy are able to make their voices heard so that this country can live up to its full promise and potential.”
The former Texas congressman proposed 12-year limit for service in each house of Congress — for a potential total of 24 years — or six terms in the House and two terms in the Senate. Supreme Court justices would serve 18-year terms but still be eligible to serve on federal courts of appeals following completion of that term.
The plan also takes aim at political action committees, which would be barred from contributing to campaign committees and required to disclose all donors of any amount.
O’Rourke also said he would call on Congress to establish a national voting holiday and advocate for automatic voter registration and same-day voter registration.
A recent Hill-HarrisX poll conducted this month found O’Rourke with 4% support in the presidential primary field among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, tied with Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif.
