ATLANTA — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass HR 1, known as the For the People Act. Fair Fight Action Founder Stacey Abrams testified in favor of HR 1 because the bill “will place power back in the hands of everyday Americans—of every political stripe.”
Tellingly, this victory comes as 43 states have already introduced more than 250 bills to restrict or limit voting access this year with the more egregious examples in HB 531 and SB 241 continuing to advance in Georgia. Yesterday, counsel for the Arizona Republican Party admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court that out-of-precinct ballot disqualification rules—like those proposed by Georgia’s HB 531—were about preventing Republicans from being “at a competitive disadvantage relevant to Democrats” because “politics is a zero-sum game.” Undeterred, all of Georgia’s historic Democratic Congressional delegation voted to advance voting rights over political games.
“This is a crucial victory for those who believe in American democracy. HR 1 rightfully responds to state-sponsored voter suppression by establishing a foundation for how voters participate—regardless of zip code, race, age or income,” said Stacey Abrams, founder of Fair Fight Action. “Continuing the work of stalwarts like Congressman John Lewis and voting rights pioneer Vernon Jordan, I applaud the Georgia congressional delegation for fighting to keep our elections free and fair. Representatives Sanford Bishop, Carolyn Bourdeaux, Hank Johnson, Lucy McBath, Nikema Williams and David Scott chose to lift up our democracy and tackle the racist and systemic barriers intentionally built to exclude Black and brown voices. We look forward to Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff joining their voices to pass this vital legislation in the U.S. Senate. The very future of our democracy requires our action on S 1 and HR 4.”
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