Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ross (NC-02) joined House Democrats in passing H.R. 1, the For the People Act, a sweeping anti-corruption package to protect and expand voting rights, restore integrity to government, and put the needs and priorities of the American people ahead of special interests.

“Today, I was proud to vote for H.R.1 – a transformative package to make elections fairer and voting accessible,” said Congresswoman Ross. “Election reform isn’t about political parties, it’s about voters and ensuring their voices are heard.

“In North Carolina, I have seen firsthand the effects of the many reforms we implemented to make voting easier.  Because of these reforms, we saw record voter turnout in the state in 2020. The For the People Act builds on this progress by protecting the right to vote, ensuring the integrity of our elections, holding elected officials accountable, and ending the rule of special interests.”

In 2020, North Carolina had the longest voting period in the country: the state began mailing ballots to voters 60 days before the election. This was followed by 19 days of early voting and same-day registration at all early voting locations. Last year, North Carolina saw 75 percent of voters casting ballots—primarily before election day.

Key provisions of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, include:

• Expanding automatic voter registration and same day registration;
• Strengthening vote by mail, early voting, and ballot access;
• Combating voter intimidation and voter suppression;
• Protecting elections from foreign interference;
• Ending partisan gerrymandering;
• Promoting digital ad transparency;
• Forcing disclosure of dark money;
• Reining in lobbyist influence;
• Enforcing ethics and conflict of interest rules for all government officials; and
• Empowering small donors.

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