
The time for historic pro-democracy policy is NOW.
Washington, DC (6/22/21) â On Wednesday June 22, fifty Democratic Senators voted to open debate on legislation that would enact national standards to protect our freedom to vote. As expected, the motion failed because of an arcane procedural loophole that requires 60 votes to begin debate.
As we respond to this key national moment, we must remember that every step of progress weâve made in this country has always been met with resistance and that our fight is much bigger than this one bill or this one vote.
Whatever our identity, background or zip code, in America we value our freedom. When it comes to setting the rules for our lives, we want the freedom to vote in a transparent process we trust so we can elect leaders who deliver for us from creating jobs to providing affordable care.
But now the Republican Senators who blocked an investigation into the deadly attack on our Capitol are trying to use the same loophole to block legislation that the majority of Americans across the political spectrum are demanding to protect our freedom to vote.
This is a turning point for our nation. Our leaders must exercise their majority, eliminate the filibuster, and pass the For the People Act to create national standards for us to safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities.
Washington, DC (4/09/21) â On Friday April 9, Democracy North Carolina joined nearly 150 groups representing millions of advocates across the county to send Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer a letter calling on him to eliminate the filibuster and pass the For the People Act. In the letter, it was highlighted how the filibuster historically has been a tool that has blocked progress on civil and voting rights bills, and cited President Obamaâs call to eliminate the âJim Crow relic.â The letter also connects dots between voter suppression bills moving across the country, such as the âElection Integrity Actâ S-326 filed right here in North Carolina, and the need to move quickly on the For the People Act to prevent these racist practices from eroding our democracy.
âNow that the American Rescue Act is signed into law and delivering benefits to workers, families, and communities, we urge the Senate Democratic majority, under your leadership, to move quickly to address another major crisis facing our nation by passing S.1, the For the People Act. And to make sure that can get done, we call on you to eliminate the filibuster as a weapon that a minority of senators can use to overturn the will of the majority and prevent the For the People Act from even getting an up-or-down vote.â
â…we know that if Minority Leader McConnell can use the filibuster as a weapon to keep our democracy rigged and prevent President Biden and Senate Democrats from delivering on their promises, then the For the People Act is unlikely to become law.â
âSenate Democrats will soon face a choice: Protect our democracy and pass the For the People Act, or protect the filibuster â an outdated and abused âJim Crow relicâ that deserves to be tossed into the dustbin of history. We strongly urge you and the Senate Democratic caucus to do the right thing and not allow the filibuster to once again stand in the way of civil rights, voting rights, racial justice, and the strengthening of our democracy.â
Washington, DC (3/16/21) âOn Wednesday March 16, the For the People Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate as S.1, indicating this legislation is a top priority for this session.
This pro-democracy package will protect and strengthen our sacred right to vote, especially in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, combat corruption by passing pro-ethics measures to hold our elected leaders accountable, and end the dominance of big money in politics so the peopleâs voice can be heard.
The For the People Act is our pathway to a fully functioning democracyâone where all voices can be heard; where the public interest, not special interests, guide decision-making; and where the people can put faith in their leaders to do the right thing for the country.
This historic pro-democracy package will modernize our voter registration system to include automatic and online voter registration, curb the practice of removing people from voter rolls if they miss voting in recent elections, and restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated people who have served their time, ensuring no person permanently loses their right to vote.
Make Voting Simpler, Safer and Fairer
Get Big Money Out of Politics
Hold Elected Leaders Accountable
Itâs time for our Congress to pass and sign the For the People Act into law. This bold pro-democracy package will heal our country and build a more just, fair, and inclusive democratic society.