The For the People Act (S. 2093) would implement a sweeping federalization of American elections. Among the bill’s provisions, S. 2093 would force states to implement nationwide Internet, automatic, and same-day voter registration. The bill would also mandate states to allow mail-in voting for all voters, make ballot “drop boxes” available in every county, and implement early voting that begins at least 15 days prior to an election. Additionally, S. 2093 would prohibit voter caging, greatly reducing verification of voter-registration lists; require states to set up “independent redistricting commissions” that take redistricting authority out of state legislatures’ hands; and enact additional campaign-finance regulations.
The Senate did not vote directly on S. 2093, but on a motion to invoke cloture (and thus limit debate) so the bill could be voted on. The motion to invoke cloture was rejected on June 22, 2021 by a vote of 50 to 50 (Roll Call 246; a three-fifths majority of the entire Senate is required to invoke cloture). We have assigned pluses to the nays because, under our system of government, state legislatures possess primary authority over regulating congressional elections.
