Former First Lady Michelle Obama has curated an all-star team to push the "For The People" act. The proposal seeks to expand the number of ways in which Americans can vote. Obama also hopes this act will restore voting rights to those with felony convictions, make Election Day a national holiday and ban patrician gerrymandering.
“This bill is not about choosing one party or one issue over another. It is about commonsense reforms and best practices that make our democracy more open, [fairer], and more inclusive. It is about reaffirming our founding principle that we can chart our own course as a nation,” Obama wrote in an open letter to Congress.
“The For the People Act is about moving closer to the [country] we aspire to be—a land of opportunity where every voice is heard and valued.”
Obama's "For The People" bill comes as lawmakers are pushing to make it even more difficult for many people to vote. Despite several claims of widespread voter fraud being disproven, more than 200 bills in three dozens states have been introduced that will make it harder for Black and Latinx people to vote. Most notably, state lawmakers in Georgia are seeking to limit the number of dropbox voting locations in the state.
The "For The People" act is largely propelled by Obama's When We All Vote nonprofit organization. Valerie Jarrett, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chris Paul, Kerry Washington, Janelle Monáe and Shonda Rhimes all work to promote the voting rights organization. Alicia Keys, The Roots, Jay Ellis, Shaquille O'Neal, Steph Curry, Common, Carmelo Anthony, Yara Shahidi, Laverne Cox, Ayesha Curry and several others have signed a petition supporting the bill.
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