Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for the “For the People” Act of 2021. The historic bill (H.R. 1) would strengthen and secure the right to vote for all Americans, eliminate political gerrymandering of Congressional districts, make political contributions more transparent, and implement other anti-corruption measures to strengthen American democracy.
“Every American has the right to vote and that vote must be protected,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “In the last decade, we have seen an attack on voting rights across the country. The 2020 election gave millions of Americans faith that their vote and their voice make a difference. We cannot let that be taken away. The American right to vote is sacred. If we can protect everyone’s vote and get rid of gerrymandering, we will create a democracy where voters continue to choose their politicians, instead of politicians choosing their voters. We need to pass this bill to secure the foundations of our democracy and protect it from voter suppression.”
The bill would restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act to guarantee voting rights for Americans nationwide. Right now, there are more than 250 bills in 28 states, such as Georgia, that would make it harder for citizens to cast their ballots. Those state bills would eliminate “no fault” absentee voting, same-day voter registration, and automatic voter registrations. But the “For the People” Act would stop those efforts and expand the ability of voters to utilize more absentee and early voting methods in future elections. It would enable states to create a non-partisan, open process to draw transparent and fair congressional district maps. Also, it would implement tougher ethics laws to hold elected officials more accountable for their actions.
Original source can be found here.
