Early Wednesday morning, Senate Republicans filibustered a key measure in the For the People Act that would rid the country of extreme partisan gerrymandering. Republicans blocked the stand-alone bill, despite it having overwhelming bipartisan support among Americans, with recent polling finding that 82% of Americans support this proposal, including 71% of Republicans and 80% of Independents.
The timing of the vote was critical because today the Census Bureau is releasing block-level data that allows for states to begin their redistricting processes. Republicans across the country have said they will use partisan gerrymandering to redraw unfair congressional districts in their favor and at the expense of voters in an effort to win back the House majority.
“We’ve crossed a new threshold and now we’re in a race against time to pass the For the People Act. Voters are now at risk because states can pass new, unfair maps that marginalize their voices at any moment,” said End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund President Tiffany Muller. “The American people deserve to choose their elected officials, not the other way around. With Republicans making it clear that they will filibuster the For the People Act and any individual piece of it–even measures that 71% of Republican voters support–the Senate must continue the push to pass this legislation, and they should not let outdated Senate procedure stand in the way.”
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