Senator Bayh believes that a diverse America is a prosperous America, and that basic civil rights should be defended at the local, state, and federal level. As a senator and as Indiana’s governor, he worked to safeguard civil rights, human rights and voting rights, while promoting diversity in government and equal opportunities for all Americans.

Defending Voting Rights

Senator Bayh believes the right to vote is fundamental to our democracy and that Congress should promote laws to help ensure that every eligible vote is accurately counted. He successfully sponsored the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act as an essential tool in guaranteeing this basic right for millions of Americans. In the wake of the controversies that marred the 2000 presidential election, he cosponsored the Help America Vote Act to set uniform performance standards for voting equipment, promote accuracy by upgrading technology, allow voters to correct balloting errors, and ensure ballot accessibility for persons with disabilities. Senator Bayh also cosponsored a sense of the Congress resolution opposing photo identification requirements for voting. Additionally, he has been a leader in making it easier for American citizens living abroad to participate in U.S. elections.

Diversity in the Judiciary

Senator Bayh believes that a diverse judiciary will increase the confidence of all Americans in our court system. As a Senator, he has supported 10 out of 12 African-Americans nominated to federal district and appellate courts, including the first African-American judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also has supported 21 out of 22 Latinos nominated to the federal bench. As Indiana governor, Bayh appointed the first African-American judge to both the Indiana Supreme Court and the Indiana Court of Appeals. He also appointed more women as judges, state agency heads, board directors, and senior executives than any governor in Indiana history.

Equality in Education

Senator Bayh has fought to ensure that all students have access to a quality education. He supports full funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to meet the educational needs of children with disabilities. He has led efforts to ensure that federal aid is targeted to schools serving disadvantaged communities. He has also championed efforts to close the educational achievement gap, curb the high school dropout rate, and help Hispanic students learn the English language.

Penalizing Hate Crimes

Senator Bayh has consponsored anti-hate crimes legislation every Congress since coming to the Senate. He believes our society should send a strong, clear, and moral message that violent crimes motivated by bigotry will be answered with the full force of the law. He cosponsored the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, which enhances federal penalties for violence motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability status. “While hatred and bigotry cannot be eradicated by an act of Congress,” he said, “we must send an unambiguous message that our society will not tolerate cowardly acts of violence motivated by prejudice.”

Honoring Civil Rights Heroes

To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of equal justice and nonviolent social change, Senator Bayh supported congressional efforts to have an MLK memorial built on the National Mall. He also cosponsored legislation to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. In February, he introduced legislation to honor the memory of an Indiana civil rights trailblazer, Congresswoman Julia M. Carson, by proposing to rename Indianapolis’ Mapleton Station Post Office after her. As governor of Indiana, Bayh designated the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday for state employees and established the Governor’s Commission for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Gov. Bayh also issued executive orders establishing the Indiana Women’s Commission and the Native American Council and revitalizing the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.