WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2021 – Senate Republicans voted today to block S1, known as the For The People Act, from proceeding to discussion. The bill contains vital protections for voting rights, and it was introduced in a year when Republican state lawmakers have enacted at least 22 laws aimed at suppressing the right to vote in 14 states. Senate Republicans ended debate on the For The People Act without offering any realistic alternatives or counter proposals, and refused to even consider a compromise proposal introduced by West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin.
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement:
“Congress has no greater duty to our Constitution or our democratic system of government than ensuring every American’s right to vote. By failing to even consider the most important piece of voting rights legislation to be introduced in more than a generation, the Senate failed to meet its sacred obligation to the American people and failed a critical test for the future of our democracy. This crisis will only continue as long as our government is allowed to be held hostage by a party that received tens of millions of fewer votes than the party in power. We must bring an end to the filibuster or forego any hope of democratic governance. If it’s a choice between democracy and bipartisanship, the choice must be democracy or we’ll achieve neither.”