WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping voting rights bill that aims to counter Republican-led efforts to restrict access to the ballot box, setting up a major clash with the GOP and potentially imperiling the Biden administration’s legislative agenda.
The bill, known as the For the People Act, would create national standards for voting, including automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and expanded early voting. It would also restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences and make it easier for people to register to vote by mail.
House Democrats say the bill is necessary to protect the right to vote, which they say is under attack from Republicans in states across the country. They point to a wave of new voting restrictions that have been enacted in Republican-controlled states, including laws that make it harder to register to vote, cast a ballot by mail, and vote early.
“We are facing the most significant assault on voting rights in a generation,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). “This bill is essential to protecting the fundamental right to vote for all Americans.”
Republicans, on the other hand, say the bill is an unnecessary federal overreach that would undermine state election laws. They argue that states should be allowed to set their own voting rules and that the bill would lead to voter fraud.
“This bill is a partisan power grab that would federalize our elections and make it easier for people to cheat,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). “It is a solution in search of a problem.”
The bill is expected to pass the House, but it faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Democrats need 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster, and there is no guarantee that they will be able to get that many votes.
If the bill does not pass the Senate, it will be a major setback for the Biden administration and its legislative agenda. Voting rights is a top priority for Biden, and he has repeatedly called on Congress to pass legislation to protect the right to vote.
The For the People Act is the most comprehensive voting rights bill to be introduced in Congress in decades. It would make a number of significant changes to the way elections are conducted in the United States, including:
* Creating automatic voter registration for all eligible Americans.
* Allowing same-day voter registration in all states.
* Expanding early voting by requiring states to offer at least 15 days of early voting.
* Restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences.
* Making it easier for people to register to vote by mail.
* Creating a new independent redistricting commission to draw congressional districts.
* Banning partisan gerrymandering.
* Limiting the amount of money that can be spent on political campaigns.
* Requiring candidates for federal office to disclose their tax returns.
The bill is a top priority for Democrats, but it faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Republicans are likely to block the bill, and it is unclear whether Democrats will be able to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
If the bill does not pass the Senate, it will be a major setback for the Biden administration and its legislative agenda. Voting rights is a top priority for Biden, and he has repeatedly called on Congress to pass legislation to protect the right to vote..
