(L-r): Elizabeth Hira – Spitzer Fellow and Policy Counsel, Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. (Linkedin) Alex Gulotta – All Voting is Local Campaign, Arizona State Director. (AllVotingisLocal.org) Mimi Marziani – President, Texas Civil Rights Project. (Linkedin)

TL; DR:

Our democracy has been under relentless attack for the latter half of the decade, and we are finally witnessing a call-to-action as the American voters stand up and say, “Enough is enough!”

Ethnic Media Services (EMS) hosted a panel of experts giving hopeful news about our voting rights.

Intro

The last decade has been revolutionary for us. We shifted from tuning into an FM station to instantly streaming our playlists on Spotify. We have gone from networking in-person and continuing over texts/calls to using social media platforms as an avenue to keep in touch with our over-extended connections. Even though society has advanced in the tech space, we have somehow regressed in the leadership area.

At an EMS briefing held on Zoom, June 11, the panelists – Elizabeth Hira, Spitzer Fellow and Policy Counsel, Brennan Center’s Democracy Program; Alex Gulotta, All Voting is Local Campaign, Arizona State Director; and Mimi Marziani, President, Texas Civil Rights Project – were hosted by Sandy Close, Director, Ethnic Media Services along with Sunita Sohrabji, Contributor, EMS. They assert that despite the current state-level voter suppression laws being enacted, the federal government is on a mission to tackle voter suppression and citizens are making their voices heard.

The Current Situation

With the progressive leadership America has undertaken, we are now seeing a more equitable society become a reality. There are a few bad apples still trying to beat a dead horse by envisioning a ‘great’ America, no forward-thinking voter wants. Alex Gulotta points out that the fight is not between two major political parties, it is simply a power tussle that uses fearmongering.

Gulotta asserts if voters make their voices heard, the government will listen and if the voters lose hope, the antagonist party will prevail. Gulotta also points out that we had the highest voter turnout despite a pandemic and we should be proud that “our democracy is winning.”

Mimi Marziani is at the forefront in fighting for voter rights. She points out that steps are being taken in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and more ‘red-lead’ states to dismantle and damage the foundation of what powers our democracy – Voting.

Marziani also says that there is resilience building against voter suppression bills and American people are raising their fists against such bills – (cough, cough) Texas. Where some states are restricting voting rights, many states are working to expand voting eligibility and accessibility for the upcoming elections as seen in Nevada.

The Progressive Bill

We see a shift towards bipartisanship and progressive thinking to tackle voter suppression, where many Republicans and Democrats are willing to work together to make America ‘great’ again on a federal level. Elizabeth Hira jokes that Congress is doing its job by introducing an 800+ page bill. Hira asserts that this bill would fix so much that is imperative to saving our democracy and empowering it. She also believes that with bipartisan support, “For the People Act” is the spearheading bill that would enact certain measures on a federal level allowing for a more fair and secure election.

This bill essentially redefines what a fair election looks like. By adding the provisions necessary and gaining increasing bipartisan support, this bill is more successful than the Infrastructure Bill being quarreled about in our administration.

The Gen-Z Take

As South Asian Gen-Z, most of us have been fortunate to live in a country like America. We are highly educated and prospering individuals who understand the importance of the right to vote.

2020 Elections had one of the highest voter turn-outs because of the Gen-Z, however, amongst the youth, the rhetoric was a bit different. Some believed that there was no point in voting because they are voting for ‘two old and rich white farts’ – one more radical than the other. Although we are forced to believe that our vote really counts under the current election system, Gen-Z have an increasing sense of mistrust around the election process. This bill is imperative to restore the trust that has diminished in the last decade.

The Impact

Hira framed the narrative of this bill and its current context perfectly when she points out that the question that this bill sought to solve is who we are voting for. She concludes by saying that Americans and the next generation of voters understand the power laden in their right to vote. We realize we want more of us to be represented than most millionaires because this is our America.

Here is an official summary of the “For the People Act of 2021”:

“The For The People Act addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government.

Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.

The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting.

Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems.

Further, the bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.

The bill addresses ethics in all three branches of government, including by requiring a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices, prohibiting Members of the House from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, and establishing additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House.

The bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns”

– Congressional Research Service