LANSING, Mich. (May 19, 2021) — Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) today offered Senate Resolution 54 calling on the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 1, colloquially known as the “For the People Act,” to increase voter participation, set guidelines for absentee voting, remove dark money from politics, and more.
“Voting is a constitutionally guaranteed right for every American. And yet, since the November 2020 election, hundreds of proposals have been introduced in state legislatures around the country — including here in Michigan — that take aim at making it increasingly difficult to vote,” Sen. McCann said. “The ‘For the People Act’ would protect every American’s fundamental freedom to vote, eliminate unnecessary barriers to voting, and take on entrenched special interests to end the grip that dark money still has on our institution.”
Since the beginning of the legislative season across the country, the Brennan Center for Justice reports that more than 360 pieces of restrictive voter legislation have been introduced in legislatures in 47 states.
In Michigan, where Senate Republicans have introduced a 39-bill package that aims to disenfranchise voters, state GOP leaders are reportedly working to bypass the Democratic governor’s veto by exploiting a loophole in Michigan law that allows for voters to send a bill to the legislature if 340,000 people sign a petition asking them to do so. This undemocratic maneuver empowers the Republican-controlled legislature to approve such proposals and bypass the ballot box in the process.
“Passing H.R. 1 would ensure that elected officials are working in the public’s best interest as they were selected to do by the people,” Sen. McCann added. “The U.S. House passed this legislation back in March and now the U.S. Senate needs to find a way to do the same. We need to defend our democracy and protect voters from anti-democratic, partisan procedural games that are happening within state legislatures not just across the country, but right here in Michigan. Our citizens deserve better and are counting on Congress to get this across the finish line.”
The resolution was referred to the Senate Elections Committee.
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