Ensure that all Pennsylvanians can vote
Since January, congressional Republicans have introduced at least 10 bills and constitutional amendments to suppress the vote and silence the voices of millions of Americans, especially Black and brown voters. Republican state legislators have introduced more than 250 bills to restrict the right to vote so far this year, including at least a dozen in Pennsylvania.
Especially after the Department of Homeland Security declared that the 2020 election “was the most secure in American history,” why are congressional and state legislative Republicans afraid of all eligible Americans voting? They occasionally say the quiet part out loud about their true intentions — they fear losing their power if more people vote.
Instead of trying to silence the voices of American voters, congressional Republicans should support the For the People Act, a comprehensive package of reforms to protect and strengthen the right to vote. Solutions in the act have been tried and tested in states across the country. These reforms often have strong bipartisan support among voters and have already been successfully implemented in many jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania. Passing the For the People Act could help ensure that the 2 million Pennsylvanians who don’t participate in our elections can register to vote and have their voices heard.
We’re thankful for the continued support from Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., of the For the People Act. Given that Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., stated forcefully that he opposed an “effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others,” Common Cause’s more than 45,000 supporters across Pennsylvania urge Mr. Toomey to support the For the People Act to ensure that all Pennsylvanians can have their voices heard and votes counted.
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen our democracy and protect voting rights for all Americans. We call on congressional Republicans and all members of Congress to support this legislation to help protect our right to vote.
KHALIF ALI Executive Director Common Cause Pennsylvania Harrisburg