Opinion: H.R. 1 Is A Godsend That will Benefit Everyday Americans In The Voting Process

After protestors raided the halls of Congress and endangered the lives of Capitol police and congress people, many forgot the core issue that spurred the uprising: the electoral process. This may initially seem like a mundane part of the American political landscape, but last year, the intricacies of our democracy came under scrutiny to an unprecedented degree.

The vulgar results of baseless ballot counting conspiracies exposed the need for lawmakers to reconsider voting accessibility and what enfranchisement truly means.

Many voting rights activists believe the “For the People” Act is a Godsend that makes voting easier, discourages corporate influence and limits the scope of gerrymandering. The bill institutes automatic voter registration for citizens with a government-issued ID, increases funding for adequate voting equipment to decease wait times at the polls, re-enfranchises formerly incarcerated individuals, increases access to mail-in ballots and begins the process to end partisan gerrymandering.

The culmination of these policies could mean a smoother and more accessible voting process for a majority of Americans than in previous election cycles. However, Republicans sounded the alarms because this bill essentially shifts Constitutionally given electoral power away from state legislatures into the hands of the federal government. However, the Republican arguments against H.R. 1 are either hypocritical, incoherent or outright false. 

Mere hours after the Capitol riots, 147 Republicans in Congress voted to outright dismiss millions of mail-in ballots in Arizona and Pennsylvania over shaky claims of voter fraud. Apparently, Republicans have no issue with Congress disenfranchising voters, but will raise red flags when Congress wants to enfranchise more voters through passing H.R. 1.

H.R. 1 allows Americans to choose whether they want to vote in-person or by mail without needing to give a specified reason which would increase voter turnout. According to Pew Research, precincts across the country saw higher voter turnout rates in 2020 because their election boards opened up new ways to vote so people did not crowd voting locations and spread COVID-19. Many states already incorporate this policy, but H.R. 1 would require all 50 states to provide their voters with the same privileges. 

Conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation claim H.R. 1 would lead to increased voter fraud, but they have not presented any evidence of a connection between increased availability of mail-in ballots and an increase in fraudulent votes. Mail-in ballots makes voting easier for disabled people, those serving in the armed forces, workers with long or unpredictable hours and Americans living abroad. All Americans should also deserve to have the same access to voting as those who show up to the polls on Election Day and H.R. 1 ensures their rights.

By slightly increasing the fines for criminal and civil charges, H.R. 1 would use that money to establish a system of public funding for campaigns, which the White House says will “amplify the voices of the public, not the powerful.” 

Citizens could still donate to their candidates, but the bill will allow the federal government to match donations that are $200 or less at a 6-to-1 ratio. Candidates that want to be eligible for the “matching program” cannot accept donations over $1,000.

According to Vox, progressives like Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have long cited the partial sway of special-interest groups and think tanks as the source of many unpopular policies. Putting these organizations on an equal playing field with everyday Americans could encourage politicians to pay less undue attention to the interests of the rich and well-connected.

While conservatives in the National Review may say that this part of H.R. 1 limits free speech, our current system of large Super PACs and billionaires donating great sums to the candidates of their choice in both parties drowns out the voices of working class Americans. Campaign finance must be reformed if every day Americans are to be properly heard in our democracy.

Admittedly, H.R. 1 is a large bill that covers a myriad of issues from voting eligibility to redistricting. If passed, the bill’s scope would totally transform what American democracy looks like. For many Americans who experience long lines at the polls, unequal access to voting locations and a host of other concerns about our electoral process, H.R. 1 would be a step in the right direction.

Austin Gaebe is an Opinion Writer. Follow him on Twitter at @AustinGaebe.