I feel it is important to inform people exactly what is in the For the People Act, currently before the U.S. Senate, so we can all be aware of the benefits of this important legislation.
This act, if made into law, would ensure the following reforms for our elections: 1) early voting options, which would ease overcrowding at polling locations; 2) restoration of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures equal access to voting regardless of race; 3) citizen-funded elections, which would reduce the effects of wealthy special interests in politics; 4) gerrymandering reforms, ensuring congressional district boundaries are drawn in a fair, nonpartisan fashion; 5) ethics reforms, increasing honesty and transparency throughout the voting process; and 6) election security strengthening, ensuring trust and reliably documenting verification of election results.
These changes would insure inclusiveness and access to voting, increasing every citizen’s sense of power and relevance as well as fostering trust in voting outcomes. Utah would benefit in terms of having congressional district boundaries drawn by bipartisan redistricting committees, including representation from diverse communities throughout the state, as opposed to our current and more partisan system. I urge all Utahns and our two senators to support the For the People Act.
LeRoy Anderson
Millcreek