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WHEREAS, voter turnout rates in the United States must be improved to uphold the nation's democracy, and accessing and exercising the right to vote without obstruction is a constitutional right that is being violated by states across the nation through deliberate efforts to disenfranchise or otherwise impede electoral participation by countless Americans; and
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WHEREAS, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least 51 million, or nearly one in four, eligible voters in the United States are not registered to vote; and
WHEREAS, as of February 19, 2021, more than 253 bills restricting voting access had been carried over, pre-filed, or introduced in 43 states, with 14 restrictive voting rights bills introduced in Pennsylvania in February 2021 alone; and
WHEREAS, without an effort to halt and reverse restrictions on voting rights, the democratic rights of all Pennsylvanians - and, by extension, the rights of those in Pittsburgh - will continue to be at risk; and
WHEREAS, the For the People Act, now under consideration by the United States Congress, would expand access to voting, commit Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act, enhance federal support for voting security, improve donor disclosure practices, and strengthen federal ethics oversight; and
WHEREAS, moreover, the For the People Act would eliminate hurdles that burden eligible or would-be voters during the registration process as part of its goal to expand and modernize the country's voter registration system, including through the establishment and implementation of automatic voter registration, same-day registration, online registration, and a 15-day minimum early vote period for no-excuse absentee voting across the nation, while also ensuring that all aforementioned services are accessible and inclusive of those with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, further reforms included in the For the People Act would be policies to combat the effects of the Supreme Court's 2018 Husted v. A Philip ...
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