More than 300 groups sign letter asking Biden to push for passage of For the People Act

More than 300 advocacy, civic, faith and labor groups sent a letter to the Biden administration on Monday urging them to “do everything in their power” to push for the passage of a sweeping voting rights bill that is stalled in the Senate. 

“We, the 302 undersigned advocacy, civic, faith and labor groups representing nearly 2.5 million Americans from 43 states and the District of Columbia appreciate the leadership you are providing to support the For the People Act.  We are organizing and communicating in support of this crucial legislation,” the letter reads.

“At this critical moment in time, we ask that you do everything in your power, both in public and behind-the-scenes, to work toward its swift passage.”

The letter details the concerns the group has about voting laws that are being passed in Republican-led states which they say “largely target people of color, [and] grossly undermine the fundamental fairness and integrity of our elections.”

The For the People Act would work to stop states from purging people from voting rolls, cement early and mail-in voting and simplify voting registration.

“The For the People Act provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and strengthen our democracy by expanding voting rights, changing campaign finance laws to reduce the influence of money in politics, and limiting partisan gerrymandering,” the groups wrote to President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Among the groups that signed the letter are Action for a Better Tomorrow, Civic Sundays and National Rural Social Work Caucus.

“We agree that fair representation and voter access in America are under direct attack.  We are extremely worried about the very survival of our democracy.  We ask that you place the urgent passage of this bill at the top of your administration’s agenda,” the letter concludes.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said over the weekend he would not vote for the bill, which has passed the House, making its passage through the upper chamber unlikely.

“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act,” Manchin said.