It's time for the Senate to pass the For the People Act--the most significant piece of legislation to strengthen our democracy since the Civil Rights movement.

This act would put an end to voter suppression in our country. This bill would enact much needed reforms to our voting systems.

Already this year, in state houses across the country, more than 250 bills spread across 43 states have been introduced to further weaken our democracy and make it more difficult for Americans to vote. These bills seek to make it harder to register to vote and cast a ballot by limiting early and mail-in voting and setting up more barriers that particularly impact Black, Brown, and young people. 

The For the People Act is about moving closer to the America we aspire to be—a land of opportunity where every voice is heard and valued. Among the tremendous progress it promises, this bill will:

• Expand automatic voter registration, adding as many as 50 million people to voter rolls;
• Expand same-day and online voter registration for federal elections, which are especially important for young people and first-time voters;
• Allow for pre-registration for 16- and 17-year-olds, so that when they get their driver’s license, they are also registered and ready to vote when they turn 18;
• Require two weeks of early voting for federal elections, including on the weekends and after work, and increased access to vote-by-mail, so no American has to decide between making their voice heard and earning a living, taking care of their family, or staying safe during a pandemic;
• Make Election Day a national holiday, making it easier for more Americans to cast a ballot;
• Restore the right to vote for people with felony convictions, which disproportionately impacts minority communities;
• Strengthen federal criminal penalties for those who misinform and intimidate people at the polls;
• Overhaul our campaign finance system to give ordinary Americans a greater voice in the political process and afford a more diverse array of people the opportunity to run; and
• Ban partisan gerrymandering and discriminatory voter purges.

We can do so much better as a country. But we’ll never be able to do it alone. Now is our best chance to protect and strengthen our democracy and put power back where it belongs—with the people.

  Read Michelle Obama's letter to learn more about the bill.