To the Journal editor:

The For the People Act, the first bill introduced this year in the U.S. House of Representatives as HR1, passed the House on March 3 and is heading to the U.S. Senate.

This act will improve American elections by making our election system more free, fair, and accessible to all eligible Americans.

This legislation will restore the Voting Rights Act, improve Automatic Voter Registration, modernize the public financing of elections through small donor matching funds, end gerrymandering, and restore transparency in our government.

The League of Women Voters of Marquette County joins with voting rights groups around the country in our enthusiastic support of the For the People Act.

A few of the measures in the For the People Act were enshrined in Michigan’s state constitution by citizen-initiated ballot proposals. Michigan can be proud to have passed those proposals overwhelmingly in 2018 to improve access to voting and ending gerrymandering.

The For the People Act is far more comprehensive and would extend these and many more pro-democracy measures nationwide.

The League of Women Voters of Marquette County calls upon our local leaders to support this transformative bill. U.S. Sens. Peters and Stabenow must show their dedication to a strengthened democracy that works for all. They must vote in favor of the For the People Act.

Call your U.S. senators and tell them how important this package of reforms is to the future of our democracy.

This legislation enshrines into law what all Americans know: that everyone deserves a voice in our democracy. The For the People Act is a huge step forward for democracy, one that The League of Women Voters strongly supports.

The League of Women Voters of Marquette County is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters is part of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition, a nonpartisan collaboration of more than one hundred and twenty-five local, state, and national organizations committed to delivering the bold reforms to our democracy that the public is demanding.