NEW: Report Details the Impact of the For the People Act (H.R.1/S.1) on Key States

Published: 3.23.21

Washington, D.C. — In advance of the first Senate hearing on the For the People Act (H.R.1/S.1) in the Senate Rules & Administration Committee, the Voter Protection Program released a new report, “The Impact of H.R.1 & S.1 on Voting: An Analysis of Key States.” The report examines how the For the People Act affects federal elections in particular states, with a focus on how the legislation would protect the freedom to vote and help thwart voter suppression efforts sweeping statehouses across the country. The report follows the introduction of more than 250 bills in more than 40 states seeking to block access to the ballot box and comes as Georgia lawmakers are pushing to finalize an omnibus voter suppression package before the session adjourns.

Joanna Lydgate, National Director of the Voter Protection Program, said, “In the fight to save our democracy, states are too often overlooked until it’s time to cast our ballots. But the fact is that states are at the center of the battle, with more than 250 bills aimed at restricting voting rights moving in state legislatures across the country. The For the People Act is a must pass piece of federal legislation to protect states against these dangerous attacks on the freedom to vote. Our latest report looks at how H.R.1/S.1 would impact key states and proactively safeguard voting rights, enhance election security, and strengthen our democracy.”

In this first in-depth look at state impacts, the report details how H.R.1/S.1 intersects with current law in nine key jurisdictions: Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. These states include places that set records for voter registration and participation as well as those that saw the most aggressive attempts to undermine the will of the American voters in 2020.

Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.), Voter Protection Program Chair, said, “American democracy is at a crossroads. Our new report is a first in-depth look at how the For the People Act takes the best practices from states across the country to protect the freedom to vote—and helps prevent some of the worst efforts to block access to the ballot box. We do a deep dive into nine key states that shaped the voting debate in 2020 and continue to be on the frontlines today. The overall impact of H.R.1/S.1 is clear: voters in every state we surveyed will see a notable improvement on the ground as they cast their ballots—and that is what matters most.”

Governor Christine Todd Whitman, former two-term Governor of New Jersey and Voter Protection Program Advisory Board member said, “As the Senate prepares for their first hearing on H.R.1/S.1 this week, it is crucial our leaders in Washington stay focused on the heart of our democracy: the American voter. The new VPP report puts a spotlight on how the bill provides the states with the ability to continue doing just that—and to prevent the continued barrage of attacks on the freedom to vote. At a time when some of our nation’s leaders are still clinging to the Big Lie as a way to cling to power, it is imperative that we bring current and former leaders together to show support for efforts like the For the People Act, which strengthen our states and help secure our elections.”

Following the deluge of at least 60 meritless lawsuits filed in federal and state courts across the country challenging the results and integrity of the 2020 election, the VPP released a report, “Countering Lies about the 2020 Presidential Election,” which examines election cases in key states and debunks the false claims that helped fuel the conspiracies that incited a violent mob to attack the U.S. Capitol. This in-depth analysis refutes each election myth, state by state and case by case. The myths these lawsuits perpetuated contributed to insurrection on January 6, 2021 and continue to be used as the basis for voter suppression attempts at the state and national level.

The Voter Protection Program advances nonpartisan strategies and recommendations to protect the integrity of the election and the will of the American people, with a specific focus on the unique tools available to state attorneys general, governors, secretaries of state, and law enforcement officials.

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About the Voter Protection Program

The Voter Protection Program (VPP) is a nonpartisan organization with a mission to ensure safe, fair, and secure elections. Visit www.voterprotectionprogram.org for more information.