Editor: Democracy depends on honest elections. Public confidence and trust in the validity of election results is key to maintaining and increasing voter participation. Sadly, the “For the People Act” (H.R. 1/ S. 1) will actively undermine and destroy the very confidence it claims to promote. This bill was recently passed in the House and is now in the hands of America’s Senators.
H.R. 1 / S. 1 will send millions of dollars to fund the campaigns of political candidates through a six-to-one matching program financed by taxpayer money. It also allows candidates that take a salary out of their campaigns to be paid with public funds provided by taxpayers.
Even more alarming, the bill would turn the Federal Election Commission into a partisan body. Currently the FEC is bipartisan, with three members from each party. H.R. 1 / S. 1 would reduce the number to five, giving one political party a majority and the opportunity to rig elections in their party’s favor.
This bill does nothing to protect our votes or increase trust in our election process. It wastefully spends taxpayer dollars on politicians and centralizes power into the hands of incumbents. This bill could be titled the “End of Democracy Act.” I urge Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper to strengthen democracy and oppose this bill. Prove to Colorado that you really are “for the people.”
— Sarah Cassel, via letters@sentinelcolorado.com
Let’s see what the bill does: takes ‘dark money’ out of elections, allows non-millionaires to run for office, provides access to voters who would be shut out by R bills currently underway in state houses. Sounds good to me!
Why are ReTrumplicans so afraid of allowing citizens to vote? If they had a platform, policies, or rejected the worship of their loser crime boss, they’d have broader appeal. Instead they remain opposed to anything proposed by Ds, and offer no solutions, even when the majority of people (voters) approve of the proposed solutions.
And so the downward spiral continues.
Congress must move quickly to pass the For the People Act. It would set a national baseline for voting rights that is popular with all voters — Democrats, independents, and, yes, Republicans.
All voters would receive absentee ballot applications and be able to vote by mail without onerous and unnecessary ID requirements. It would also require states to provide two weeks of early voting. And voters would have easy access to secure ballot drop boxes.
The legislation isn’t just about protecting Americans’ freedom to vote. It also will reduce corruption in government by preventing special interests from buying our elections.
These ideas will make voting less of a struggle for hard-working Americans and increase voters’ faith in our democracy. And despite claims to the contrary, it is not some federal takeover of elections: Under the Constitution’s Elections Clause, Congress has the power — and the responsibility — to ensure every American can participate in our democracy without jumping through ridiculous hoops intended to block their votes. It’s time the Senate puts that power to good use and passes S. 1.