Press Releases
05/12/2021
Secretary Merrill Joins 8 Other Secretaries of State in Supporting S. 1 the For the People Act
The For the People Act aims to increase voters’ access to the ballot box, ensure the integrity of our elections, and promote elections that are fair and equitable
HARTFORD – Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill this week joined 8 other Secretaries of State from across the country to express their support of S. 1, the For the People Act. The For the People Act aims to increase voters’ access to the ballot box, ensure the integrity of our elections, and promote elections that are fair and equitable.
Regardless of our party affiliation, race, or age, Connecticut voters believe that a democracy that works for all of us must include all of us. The For the People Act will ensure fair elections where all citizens are able to make their voices heard so that voters can pick their leaders instead of politicians choosing their voters.
The story of our democracy is one of fighting to ensure that every American can cast their ballot and have it counted. The For the People Act will give voters the option of conveniently voting before Election Day, remove barriers to registering to vote, and protect the accuracy and integrity of our elections.
It also will fight corruption, require transparency and disclosure of political giving and spending, and end partisan gerrymandering – all popular, common-sense reforms that are already successful for us in Connecticut.
- Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill
The letter, which was sent to Senators Klobuchar and Blount, the Chair and ranking senator on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, stated the following:
The For The People Act offers a comprehensive path to securing and modernizing American democracy for generations to come. The bill provides clear guidance for all 50 states and the District of Columbia to implement election processes that work for administrators and voters alike, and its adoption into law is critical to the future of American elections. Proven policies such as automatic and same-day voter registration will remove administrative obstacles for eligible voters while maintaining up-to-date and accurate voter rolls. Voter-verified paper ballots will ensure every vote is accurately recorded and allow administrators to conduct reliable audits to verify election results. Other provisions, such as independent redistricting commissions to combat gerrymandering and shining light on dark money, will further strengthen the integrity of our elections.
Importantly, the sponsors of this legislation have continued to work closely with election administrators from across the country, listening to our input and proposing a substitute amendment that further improves the For the People Act by ensuring it can be implemented efficiently and effectively. These changes in the substitute amendment strengthen the legislation by providing the flexibility necessary to meet the diverse needs of our election jurisdictions, while ensuring voters have access to the ballot.
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We strongly encourage Senators to continue to work with Secretaries of State and election officials to make further improvements to the bill, to ensure that the critical best practices in the legislation can be properly implemented across a varied landscape of election law and process. Our expertise and experience can inform the careful crafting of minor adjustments to make certain that the For the People Act will be successful in protecting and expanding the voting franchise.
As the chief elections officials in our respective states, and as the administrators who will be tasked with executing many of the policies proposed in the For The People Act, we can confidently state that this bill and the substitute amendment are designed to make our democracy stronger and safer than ever. We proudly and firmly support the For The People Act, and we strongly recommend its passage in the U.S. Senate.
Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill was joined in signing the letter by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Veronica Degraffenreid, and Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos.
The letter is attached and will be available here: https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Press-Releases/2021-Press-Releases.
SotS Letter S1 For the People Act
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