Guest commentary — HR 1 For the People’s Act – Making Democracy Work

On January 4, 2021, H.R. 1 For the People’s Act was introduced and is currently being reviewed by Congressional committees.  The bill provides an opportunity to expand and protect voting rights, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable and assure our democracy is representative of all Americans’ voices and values.

The vast majority of Americans support this bill, including 56% of Republicans.  Special interests spent $14 billion to influence the 2020 election, the most amount of money spent on an election in the history of the U.S.

Legislators in 28 states have introduced over 100 bills trying to restrict voting by adding voter photo ID laws, purging inactive voters from the rolls, reducing or eliminating voting by mail and early voting. Lawmakers in 35 states have introduced more than 400 bills to make voting easier for voters, including expanding vote by mail, authorizing drop boxes, expanding online voter registration, etc.

H.R. 1 will make the process of voting and campaign financing more uniform throughout the country as well as assuring election security in all states. Let’s make sure our election officials have the tools needed to keep our elections secure and assure that all eligible voters have access to voting.

Call/write your representatives in Congress as well as the Senate to encourage them to pass this bill now.  “H.R. 1 — 117th Congress: For the People Act of 2021” – https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr1

Betsy Patterson

Ojai, CA

President, League of Women Voters of Ventura County