Democracy 21 Urges Members Of Congress To Support Freedom To Vote Act Being Reintroduced Today In Senate And House
Democracy 21 today strongly urged Senators and Representatives to support the Freedom to Vote Act, historic voting rights legislation that is being reintroduced today in the Senate and House.
“The Freedom to Vote Act is historic legislation that provides a holistic and comprehensive approach to fixing our broken political system and repairing our corrupt campaign finance system,” Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer wrote in letters to Senators and Representatives.
The Freedom to Vote Act would protect the right to vote, curb partisan gerrymandering, combat election sabotage efforts, help to eliminate the corrupting influence of “dark money” in elections, and provide incentives for small donations to federal candidates. The Act will help ensure that every eligible voter can have their voice and vote heard, counted, and protected.
“This is a difficult battle that must be won, no matter how long it may take. Our democracy is on the line,” Wertheimer wrote.
Last week, the House Administration Committee, on a Republican party-line vote, approved the so-called American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act.
The ACE Act is, Wertheimer wrote, “a farce and a fraud.”
The ACE Act will make it harder for Blacks, other minorities, the disabled, the young, and urban residents to vote. The measure also will expand the corrupting influence of “dark money” in elections.
“Last week’s action by the House Administration Committee further exposed the disingenuous efforts of House Republicans and drove home the vital importance of passing the real voting rights and campaign finance reforms found in the Freedom to Vote Act,” Wertheimer wrote.
Read the letter below.
July 18, 2023
Dear Senator,
Democracy 21 strongly urges you to support and cosponsor the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) being reintroduced today in the Senate and the House.
We applaud the national leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is making this a top priority for the Senate, and Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, who is again serving as the lead sponsor of the bill.
We also applaud the leadership of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is making this a top priority for House Democrats, and Representative John Sarbanes, who is the House architect of the Freedom to Vote Act and again is the lead sponsor of the bill.
The Freedom to Vote Act is historic legislation that provides a holistic and comprehensive approach to fixing our broken political system and repairing our corrupt campaign finance system.
The legislation would protect the sacred right to vote, curb partisan gerrymandering, combat election sabotage efforts, help to eliminate the corrupting influence of “dark money” in elections, and provide incentives for small donations to federal candidates. The Act will help ensure that every eligible voter can have their voice and vote heard, counted, and protected.
The FTVA passed the House in 2021 and came within two votes of passing the Senate and being enacted into law in 2022.
The right to vote is at the heart of our democracy and protecting it should not be controversial.
But it is with Republicans.
In the last Congress, Republicans rejected the FTVA, which would have made it easier for eligible citizens to vote and would have protected the fairness, integrity, and security of our elections.
Last week, the House Administration Committee, on a Republican party-line vote, approved the so-called American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act. It is an Alice-in-Wonderland bill that claims to promote confidence in elections but, in fact, will make it harder for Blacks, other minorities, the disabled, the young, and urban residents to vote. The measure also will expand the corrupting influence of “dark money” in our elections.
To put it simply, the ACE Act is a farce and a fraud.
Last week’s action by the House Administration Committee further exposed the disingenuous efforts of House Republicans and drove home the vital importance of passing the real voting rights and campaign finance reforms found in the Freedom to Vote Act.
This is a difficult battle that must be won, no matter how long it may take. Our democracy is on the line.
Former President Donald Trump’s endless lies and false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him have had a destructive impact at the federal, state, and local levels. Voter suppression laws, passed by Republican state legislatures, are damaging our voting systems and dramatically reducing confidence in the integrity of our elections.
We cannot allow this to continue.
The late Representative John Lewis, one of our greatest civil rights icons, once said: “The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.”
And, today, we must save it.
Sincerely,
Fred Wertheimer
President, Democracy 21
Letter To Representatives (PDF)
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