The long lines to vote in the 2012 presidential election should have never happened, but a wave of voter suppression laws put obstacles in the way of millions of voters. I am working to address this issue. Today, I proudly co-sponsored the Voter Empowerment Act, which serves a blueprint to strengthening the rights of all voters. We must extend access to the polls; modernize our registration system; and protect voters from deceptive practices and intimidation. The time to act is now.