Larson Votes to Protect Our Democracy, Pass Election Reform

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted for HR 1, the For the People Act.

"Our democracy is under attack. In 2016, we saw foreign governments interfere in the presidential election. And today, after we witnessed record turnout that flipped several red states to blue, Republican-led state legislatures are trying to make it harder for Americans to vote. The enactment of the For the People Act will help us protect our democracy and empower citizens to make their voices heard through the ballot box.

"Every American must have an equal opportunity to cast their vote. That is the best way to ensure our elected representatives can better serve the people and not corporate interests. Unfortunately, we have seen what money in politics does, like the control the NRA has over the Republican Party, stifling commonsense gun safety reform for years. The For the People Act is a comprehensive package that will strengthen voting rights and security, remove dark money from politics, and put the power back in the hands of the American people," said Larson.

"This is a longstanding effort that Democrats have been working to pass. The bill includes provisions that would reduce the corruptive influence of corporate money in politics, which got worse after the Citizens United Supreme Court decision in 2010. Following that consequential decision, Speaker Pelosi appointed me to chair the Election Reform Taskforce. Our work back then laid the groundwork for the legislation that we passed today. This isn't just a feel-good, theoretical exercise, this is vital to protecting our democracy. However, this bill won't become law until we dismantle the archaic Senate filibuster that will block legislation like this from passing the chamber. Today's vote is a step forward, but we still have a lot of work to do!"

The For the People Act:

• Expands automatic voter registration and same day registration.
• Strengthens vote by mail, early voting and ballot access.
• Combats voter intimidation and voter suppression.
• Protects elections from foreign interference.

• Fixes partisan gerrymandering.
• Reins in the influence of lobbyists.