Support H.R. 1, the For the People Act – and Amendment Recommendations
View a PDF of this letter here.
Dear Representative:
On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national organizations committed to promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States, we urge you to support H.R. 1, the For the People Act, and to support or oppose certain amendments to the bill as noted below.
Butterfield Amendment (#2) — SUPPORT
Ensures states locate polling locations for early voting in rural areas of the state and ensure that those polling places are located in communities that will give rural residents the best opportunity to vote during the early voting period. (#95 on original list)
Hastings Amendment (#4) — SUPPORT
Requires states to submit a report to Congress not later than 120 days after the end of a Federal election cycle regarding the number of ballots invalidated by signature mismatch, the attempts to contact voters to provide notice, and the cure process and results. (#4 on original list)
Biggs (#11) — OPPOSE
Provides that State DMV’s shall require individuals applying for a driver’s license to indicate whether the individual resides in another State or resided in another State prior to applying, and whether the individual intends for the State to serve as the primary residence for voting. If so, the State election officer of the prior State of residence shall be notified. (#117 on original list)
Green Amendment (#26) — SUPPORT
Directs the Election Assistance Commission to carry out a pilot program under which the Commission shall provide funds during the one-year period beginning after the date of enactment, to local educational agencies for initiatives to provide voter registration information to secondary school students in the 12th grade. (#32 on original list)
Grijalva Amendment (#27) — SUPPORT
Provides that States shall permit an individual who receives a vote by mail ballot to cast the ballot on the date of the election by delivering the ballot to a polling place. (#62 on original list)
Moore Amendment (#29) — SUPPORT
Requires voting registration materials to be sent with notification of restoration of rights. (#3 on original list)
Moore Amendment (#30) — SUPPORT
Calls for a GAO report on the challenges and progress made in making elections accessible for those with disabilities, including assessment of the impact of changes included in H.R. 1. (#53 on original list)
Davidson (#31) — OPPOSE
Ensures that states that have taken appropriate measures to increase voter turnout are not subject to additional federal voter registration mandates. (#43 on original list)
Pocan Amendment (#37) — SUPPORT
Ends the practice of prison gerrymandering whereby incarcerated persons are counted in Census population counts as residents of correctional facilities and not their most recent residence prior to imprisonment. (#8 on original list)
Meng Amendment (#42) — SUPPORT
Requires the Election Assistance Commission poll worker training manual to ensure services are delivered in a culturally competent manner. (#131 on original list)
Brown Amendment (#45) — SUPPORT
Ensures Sunday early voting. (#46 on original list)
Brown Amendment (#46) — SUPPORT
Requires States to include in their annual report on voter registration statistics, the breakdown of race, ethnicity, age and gender of the individuals whose information is included in the report. (#49 on original list)
Brown Amendment (#47) — SUPPORT
Adds early voting to the minimum notification requirement for voters affected by polling place changes. Instead of only requiring the State to notify individuals no later than seven days before the date of the election, this would include not later than seven days prior to the first day of early voting as well, whichever comes first. (#50 on original list)
Brown Amendment (#48) — SUPPORT
Requires a portion of the early voting hours of operations to occur outside of normal business hours to ensure maximum accessibility to working individuals. (#51 on original list)
Brown Amendment (#49) — SUPPORT
Requires the States to include in their bi-annual report to Congress on the operation of the voter information hotline, a description of any actions taken in response to reports of voter intimidation or suppression. (#52 on original list)
Espaillat Amendment (#50) — SUPPORT
Requires the GAO to study the extent to which state redistricting commissions have met the membership diversity requirements in the bill. (#55 on original list)
Houlahan Amendment (#57) — SUPPORT
Modifies Section 1611 (Early Voting) to require that States provide for ten hours of early voting per day rather than four hours, as specified in the base text. (#54 on original list)
Neguse Amendment (#70) — SUPPORT
Allows 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote ahead of their 18th birthday. (#5 on original list)
We urge you to support H.R. 1 and to support or oppose the various amendments noted above. If you have any questions, please contact Leigh Chapman, Voting Rights Program Director, at [email protected], or Mike Zubrensky, Chief Counsel, at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Vanita Gupta
President & CEO
Kristine Lucius
Executive Vice President