Last year a heroic get-out-the vote rally, especially among communities who historically have been the target of voter suppression, has resulted in possibly the most fairly elected Congress in U.S. history. Now panicking conservatives in 43 states have penned over 250 bills that would roll back any advances in the democratic process.

Fortunately, the House has passed the “For the People Act of 2021”, H.R. 1, which advocates consider the “most consequential piece of voting legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” Included in this bill are initiatives that make voting more uniform, fair and accessible, such as by mandating early voting and same-day registration, creating an independent commission to draw congressional districts (i.e., kill gerrymandering), requiring political groups to disclose high-dollar donors, and improving cyber security, as well as requiring presidents to disclose their tax returns.

Although much of this legislation was recommended by a bipartisan commission, S. 1, the Senate version of the act, faces strong partisan opposition. Please ask our senators, Susan Collins, and Angus King, to remind their colleagues that it is up to Congress to protect voters’ rights so that ours can truly be a government not only of the people and for the people but by the people.

 

Melanie Lanctot

Readfield

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