WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate introduced the For the People Act and designated the bill as S.1. This new legislation will crack down on political corruption in both parties and strengthen our democracy. S.1 will improve access to the ballot, strengthen ethics laws to prevent public officials from enriching themselves, end partisan gerrymandering and limit the influence wealthy donors have over politicians.

“This landmark bill, if passed into law, would make our government more accessible, transparent and responsive to the American people. Giving the For the People Act the official designation of S.1 reflects the importance of these solutions to the well-being of our democracy,” said Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center (CLC), and Republican former chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). “S.1 would address many of the obvious and harmful problems in our democracy at a time when it is facing a crisis of confidence.”

The For the People Act is the first bill for both the Senate and the House, signifying its importance to congressional leaders. The democracy reforms in S.1 and H.R. 1 are drawn from bills that have long had bipartisan political sponsorship at both the federal and state levels. Many elected officials have pledged to prioritize democracy reform, and they should make good on their promise. Americans deserve to have a government that is accessible, transparent and responsive to the people.

61% of voters supported independent commission at ballot box in 2018 in constitutional amendment spearheaded by Voters Not Politicians

CINCINNATI, OH – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit will hear arguments in Daunt v Benson, a case that challenges the constitutionality of voter-approved reforms designed to end gerrymandering in Michigan. The decision could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and would impact the movement to adopt independent redistricting commissions across the country. Campaign Legal Center (CLC) represents Voters Not Politicians (VNP), the grassroots group that drafted and sponsored the constitutional amendment to create an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. CLC has successfully defended Michigan’s voter-approved reform from two legal challenges so far. Twice in federal district court and in a prior appeal to the same appeals court hearing today’s arguments, the commission was ruled constitutional.

Arguments will be live streamed here at 10am ET. CLC director of trial litigation Mark Gaber will be giving arguments on behalf of the defense.

“Voters should pick their politicians, not the other way around,” said Paul Smith, vice president at Campaign Legal Center (CLC). “We hope the court will reject this latest attempt by politicians and special interests to hold onto their power to redraw district lines and thwart the will of the people. The fair maps amendment was supported by 61% of Michigan voters and should be upheld.”

"It’s been over two years since the people of Michigan voted overwhelmingly to put an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in charge of drawing the state’s election district maps free from potential conflicts of interest from politicians and lobbyists,” said Nancy Wang, executive director at Voters Not Politicians. “The citizen-led redistricting process is proceeding just as voters intended. Voters are engaged and already submitting their input. The Commission will conduct public hearings around the state starting in May. Voters Not Politicians is supporting communities so they may make themselves heard in the redistricting process for the first time in our state’s history.”

Michigan’s redistricting reform amendment makes partisan politicians, lobbyists and other political insiders and their immediate family members, who are likely to have a conflict of interest in drawing district lines to benefit themselves, ineligible from serving on the commission. The individuals would, like any member of the public, have the ability to engage in redistricting by taking part in the public hearing process.

In 2018, 61% (over 2.5 million) of Michigan voters decided to put voters in charge of drawing state legislative and congressional election maps through a fair and transparent process for drawing political maps. Michigan voters of both major political parties supported the amendment, including voters in 65 of Michigan’s 83 counties.

At least 60 percent of Democrats, Independents and Republicans support the creation of independent redistricting commissions, according to polling.

Read the backstory: [How Michigan Voters Came Together to Flip Gerrymandering On Its Head]

Virtual Press Conference on Voting Access Rollbacks – Wednesday, March 10: 2pm-3pm ET

ATLANTA, GA - As Georgia lawmakers prepare to vote on a sweeping bill which would significantly restrict access to voting, national and local advocates for fair elections will hold a virtual press conference to discuss its harmful impact on different communities. The groups, representing legal, minority, community, and disability groups, strongly oppose several new restrictive proposals. In addition to restricting voting access in Georgia, speakers will touch on the concern that the trends identified in Georgia will expand nationally.

Georgia voters turned out in massive numbers twice in recent months, for both the November 2020 general election and the January 2021 runoff election. Rather than building off a record setting level of civic engagement, Georgia lawmakers are now seeking to roll back voter participation and make it harder for Georgians to vote. Proposed election changes in Georgia include:

• eliminating no-excuse absentee voting
• requiring first-time voters in Georgia to vote in person
• requiring absentee voters to provide a photocopy of their photo ID
• Language that could prohibit the use of ballot drop boxes
• restricting county election officials’ ability to utilize mobile precincts to serve rural and other hard-to-reach voters
• removing restrictions on poll watchers that keep election officials safe without facilitating additional transparency for voters

Members of the media should go to the following Zoom link to attend the call, which is on-the-record.

Speakers:

• Aklima Khondoker: Georgia State Director at All Voting is Local
• Caleb Jackson: Legal Counsel, Voting Rights at Campaign Legal Center (CLC)
• Dana Lloyd: Program Director at Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO)
• Gaylon Tootle: First Vice President at National Federation of the Blind-Georgia, and author of recent Augusta Chronicle op-ed
• Michael King: Associate Director of Law & Policy at Voting Rights Lab
• Poy Winichakul: Staff Attorney, SPLC Action Fund

There will be a Q&A following speaker presentations.

WASHINGTON – President Biden on Sunday issued an executive order to improve voting access, calling on federal agencies to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote and participate in the electoral process. 

Also, for the first time, the executive order directs the Attorney General of the United States to establish procedures to provide for voter education, registration and voting in the Bureau of Prisons. Historically, the inability to share this kind of data with election administrators served as a key barrier to achieving equity with voting access. 

Statement by Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center, and a Republican former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission: 

“This executive order – combined with White House support for the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act – shows a strong commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration to making our elections freer, fairer and more inclusive. By deploying the resources of the federal government to protect voting rights, America can streamline its voter registration process and improve on its record-setting voter participation in 2020. This executive order represents the kind of progress that serves as a fitting honor to the legacy of Congressman John Lewis on Bloody Sunday. Follow-through on this executive order will be key to ensuring the administration meets its laudable goal of allowing all eligible Americans to participate in our democracy.