For the People Act of 2021

For the People Act of 2021

This bill addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government.

Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.

The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting.

Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems.

Further, the bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.

The bill addresses ethics in all three branches of government, including by requiring a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices, prohibiting Members of the House from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, and establishing additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House.

The bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns.

Bill 117 hr 1, also known as the For the People Act of 2021, is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at reforming various aspects of the US electoral system. The bill covers a wide range of issues, including campaign finance, voting rights, ethics, and redistricting.

One of the key provisions of the bill is the establishment of a public financing system for congressional elections, which would provide matching funds for small donations and help reduce the influence of big money in politics. The bill also includes measures to increase transparency in campaign finance, such as requiring political organizations to disclose their donors.

In terms of voting rights, the For the People Act of 2021 seeks to expand access to the ballot box by implementing automatic voter registration, early voting, and same-day registration. The bill also aims to combat voter suppression by prohibiting discriminatory practices such as voter ID laws and purging voter rolls without proper justification. On the ethics front, the bill includes provisions to strengthen ethics rules for public officials, including requiring the president and vice president to disclose their tax returns. The bill also seeks to address conflicts of interest by prohibiting members of Congress from serving on corporate boards and requiring the disclosure of foreign lobbying activities. Finally, the For the People Act of 2021 addresses the issue of gerrymandering by requiring states to establish independent redistricting commissions to draw congressional districts. This is aimed at preventing partisan manipulation of district boundaries and ensuring fair representation for all voters. Overall, the For the People Act of 2021 is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to strengthen democracy and restore trust in the electoral process. It addresses a wide range of issues related to campaign finance, voting rights, ethics, and redistricting, with the goal of making the US electoral system more transparent, inclusive, and fair.