The first bill of the 116th Congress, the For the People Act, would expand access to the ballot.
Washington, DC – Yesterday, House Democrats introduced H.R. 1, the For the People Act. The first bill introduced in the 116th Congress, the For the People Act would, among other things, make it easier for young people to vote through requiring states to automatically register more voters, allow same-day registration, and expand early voting.
Upon the introduction of HR1, Reid Setzer, Government Affairs Director for Young Invincibles, issued the following statement:
It’s fitting that the first bill introduced this Congress addresses voting rights, because nothing is more sacred or fundamental to a healthy democracy than the ability to make your voice heard and choose your representation in government. Too many underrepresented populations – including young people – currently face unnecessary obstacles that stop them from casting their ballot.
This past election saw a historic surge in youth voting – 31 percent of young people cast a vote, which is a 10 point jump from the 2014 midterms. Young people recognize the importance of civic participation, but in the past they’ve often been excluded from the process by restrictive identification laws, lack of public information, and obstacles deliberately put in place to discourage young people from voting. This proposal would address some of those barriers, and especially benefit college students by automatically registering them to vote upon enrolling in a course of study.
The For the People Act will help ensure that students and young people nationwide don’t face as many unnecessary obstacles to casting their ballot. H.R. 1 is a strong statement from Congress that everyone – regardless of age, income, race, or any other factor – should have equal access to the voting booth. Young Invincibles looks forward to working with the authors to strengthen and refine the proposal as it moves ahead.”