The House, on Wednesday, Approved a Sweeping Package of Election and Government Reforms, H.R. 1/S. 1 (For the People Act of 2021), amplifying the Issue of Voting Rights amid a Contentious National Debate in the Wake of the November 2020 Elections. Some of the Measures would:
- Universal Automatic Voter Registration, Online Voter Registration; Allow at least Two Weeks of Early Voting, Drop-Boxes for Ballots, and Same Day Registration, while Modernizing our Voting Systems to make them even more Secure and Accessible.
- Blocks Partisan and Racial Gerrymandering by setting up Independent Redistricting Commissions to Draw Legislative Maps. - More Transparent by making Secret Money organizations Disclose their Donors, making sure Voters know Who is Paying for the Political Ads they see, and making sure Anyone who Violates Disclosure Rules is held Accountable.
- Breaks the Grip of Big money in Politics with a Small-Donor driven Matching Funds System, to let Candidates Run for Office without relying on Special Interests, and so Public Officials can better Reflect the Constituencies they Serve.
- Holds Public Officials Accountable by Slowing the Revolving Door between Government and Lobbyists, making Presidential Candidates Disclose their Tax Returns, Expanding Conflict-of-Interest Laws to Stop Corruption, and Requiring the Supreme Court to Adopt a Code-of-Ethics.
“This reminds me of what it must have felt like at Valley Forge,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA, 12 District) said at a News Appearance on the Steps of the Capitol earlier Wednesday. “Everything is at stake. We must win this race, this fight for this bill.” “At the same time as we are gathering here to honor our democracy, across the country over 200 bills are being put together, provisions they’re putting forward, to suppress the vote,” Pelosi said.
The Measure Passed 220-210.
This year’s Passage was more Complicated for Pelosi and her Leadership team, with just a Four-Vote Margin. Earlier this week, a Group of Moderates negotiated Changes to One aspect of the Bill. The Public Financing of Elections.
"If signed into law, H.R. 1 would be the greatest expansion of the federal government's role in our elections than we have ever seen," Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL, 15th District) said.
Democratic Leaders also worked with Senior Members of the Congressional Black Caucus to Resolve Concerns over a Redistricting Provision. With concern about a State Mandate to establish Independent commissions on Redistricting, Democrats ultimately Agreed to provide more Flexibility to States in the Current round of Redistricting, while still Requiring that States meet Certain Standards to prevent Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering.
The Senate, now in Democratic Control, is expected to take up the Bill, which will force Republicans, particularly those up for Reelection in 2022, on the Record on the Issues.
H.R. 1, is the First of Multiple Voting Rights Bills the House will consider this year.
The House also Plans to Approve a Bill, named for the late Civil Rights Icon, Rep. John Lewis, that would Restore Key Parts of the Landmark Voting Measure of 1965, to bring back Preclearance.
Both Bills’ Fates are uncertain in the Senate, where they would require GOP Votes.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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