Congresswoman Barbara Lee Votes to Pass Historic Voting Reform Legislation
Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) voted to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption package to clean up Washington, protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests.
“Every election cycle we see rampant voter suppression and efforts to undermine the electoral process and disenfranchise voters, primarily in communities of color,” said Congresswoman Lee. “It’s past time that we take bold action to safeguard our democracy, hold elected officials accountable, and restore power to the people.
“Voting is at the core of our democracy and yet, the Supreme Court’s disastrous Shelby vs. Holder decision in 2013 allowed for state legislatures to seize the opportunity to suppress voting, especially for communities of color, elderly people, students, and individuals living in poverty.
“H.R. 1 is about protecting the right to vote, upholding the integrity of our elections, and reining in the influence of special-interest money in our politics. It is also a commitment to strengthening the Voting Rights Act, an objective our beloved late Congressman John Lewis left us to complete.
“Passing H.R.1 in the House is a critical step toward putting the power back in the hands of the people and stopping the voter suppression tactics aimed at communities of color for generations. The time is now.”
Key provisions of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, include:
· Expanding automatic voter registration and same day registration.
· Strengthening vote by mail, early voting and ballot access.
· Combating voter intimidation and voter suppression.
· Protecting elections from foreign interference.
· Fixing partisan gerrymandering.
· Promoting digital ad transparency.
· Forcing disclosure of dark money.
· Reining in lobbyist influence.
· Enforcing ethics and conflict of interest rules for all government officials.
· Empowering small donors with matching funds paid for by lawbreakers, not taxpayers.
For more information on the bill, click here.