We the People deserve a responsive, accountable government that gives us all a stronger voice and puts our needs ahead of special interests

Congress must pass the Freedom To Vote Act  — a bold, comprehensive package of democracy reforms including fair redistricting standards, citizen-funded elections, closing the revolving door between government and corporate interests, and protecting voters against discrimination.

With fair maps, politicians will have to start to look for solutions and work with people across the aisle. Politicians will have to listen more to constituents than they do out of state donors and wealthy special interests.

The Freedom to Vote Act represents a huge step forward for the people. It shows the Senate and the House are working to find a path forward to get this landmark legislation signed into law. This legislation will strengthen our freedom to vote so that we all, regardless of political party, background, or where we live, have an equal say in the future for our family and community. The legislation leads to fair maps for Congressional districts and ending gerrymandering forever. It also makes important steps to curtail secret money in elections and encourage small-dollar donors to reduce the influence of big money.

Victory won’t come easily. We will need to fight to ensure the Freedom To Vote Act passes. We need to prepare right now for a fight to protect these bold reforms and pass them to ensure that all Americans for generations to come have a healthy democracy, built on transparency, trust, and the full participation of We the People.

What is the Freedom to Vote Act?

This bill is based on and contains many of the strong reforms in the For The People Act — which Common Cause also supports. The Freedom To Vote Act is the strongest, most comprehensive democracy bill we’ve seen in decades.

The Freedom To Vote Act would make a MAJOR difference: for our right to vote, for everyday people’s power against big money, for fair redistricting and an end to gerrymandering, and for a government that truly works for every single American.

The Freedom To Vote Act expands access to voting for all eligible Americans…

By setting fair, national standards such as a guaranteed two weeks of early voting; automatic voter registration; vote-by-mail for all who want it, postage prepaid; voter-verified paper ballots; strict rules to prohibit purging of eligible voters from the rolls.

The Freedom To Vote Act blocks partisan and racial gerrymandering…

By creating legally enforceable standards  so politicians can’t abuse their redistricting power for their own advantage.

The Freedom To Vote Act makes democracy more transparent…

By making secret money organizations disclose their donors, making sure voters know who is trying to influence our voices and our votes, and making sure anyone who violates disclosure rules is held accountable.

The Freedom To Vote Act breaks the grip of big money in politics…

With a small-donor driven matching funds system — to let candidates run for the House of Representatives if states opt-in without relying on special interests, and so public officials can better reflect the constituencies they serve. It also shines a light on secret-spending groups, so that voters know who is influencing their votes.

Reduce the influence of big money in our politics:

• Require secret money organizations that spend money in elections to disclose their donors
• Upgrade online political spending transparency rules to ensure voters know who is paying for the advertisements they see
• Create a small donor-focused matching system so candidates for Congress aren’t just reliant on big money donors to fund their campaigns and set their priorities
• Strengthen oversight rules to ensure those who break our campaign finance laws are held accountable
• Overhaul the Federal Election Commission to enforce campaign finance law
• Prohibit the use of shell companies to funnel foreign money in U.S. elections
• Require government contractors to disclose their political spending

The Freedom To Vote Act is a strong package— and we need to keep it that way– especially as special interest groups and others who prefer the status quo try to weaken it. We can’t let those who fear change stand in our way. Voters delivered a mandate— and an opportunity— to move our democracy forward.

We need a democracy where voters are protected from discrimination and can make themselves heard at the ballot box — with sensible reforms like automatic voter registration. A democracy where electoral districts are drawn fairly so that every voter’s ballot is worth the same by ending gerrymandering. And a democracy where ordinary Americans — more women, people of color, and working people — can run for office without relying on special interest Big Money.

We already have the solutions that work. Putting legal standards in place so that Congressional maps are fair, stop gerrymandering, and a check on the power of self-interested politicians. Small-donor, citizen-funded elections — which more than two dozen states and localities have enacted — are proven to allow ordinary people to run for office while helping ensure that elected officials stay accountable to the public interest. We must make sure that these vital reforms stay in the Freedom To Vote Act.

The Freedom To Vote Act would:

• Establish automatic voter registration, online voter registration, and same day voter registration so every eligible American can participate in the way that works best for them
• Restore voting rights to people with prior felony convictions
• Expand early voting so people with busy lives can still cast their ballots without waiting in line for hours
• Prohibit voter purges that kick eligible voters off the registration rolls
• Enhance election security with increased support for voter-verified, paper-based voting system and more oversight over election vendors
• Prohibit providing false information about the elections process that discourages voting and other deceptive practices
• Establishes federal protections to insulate nonpartisan state and local officials who administer federal elections from undue partisan interference or control
• Set up fair standards for legislative districts so politicians can’t abuse their redistricting power for their own advantage
• Expand identifying documents to satisfy voter verification laws in states that require them
• Strengthens protections for federal election records and election infrastructure in order to protect the integrity and security of ballots and voting systems
• Require secret money organizations that spend money in elections to disclose their donors
• Upgrade online political spending transparency rules to ensure voters know who is paying for the advertisements they see
• Create a small donor-focused matching system so candidates for Congress aren’t just reliant on big money donors to fund their campaigns and set their priorities
• Strengthen oversight rules to ensure those who break our campaign finance laws are held accountable
• Overhaul the Federal Election Commission to enforce campaign finance law
• Prohibit the use of shell companies to funnel foreign money in U.S. elections
• Require government contractors to disclose their political spending