“The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don’t have to waste your time voting.” – Charles Bukowski

Power to the People? 

Some of the key provisions of H.R. 1:

* Gives the federal government authority to administer elections. 

Although the US Constitution gives states the authority to run their elections as they see fit, H.R. 1 states, “Congress finds that it has broad authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of congressional elections under the Elections Clause of the Constitution, Article I, section 4.”

* Mandates automatic voter registration (AVR) in all 50 states. (19 states currently have AVR.) 

Any person that has given information to designated government agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, a public university, or a social service agency, would be automatically registered.

* Mandates no-fault absentee ballots. 

This provision would do away with witness signature or notarization requirements for absentee ballots. Additionally, it would force states to accept absentee ballots received up to 10 days after election day.

* Prevents election officials from removing ineligible voters from registries or confirming the eligibility and qualifications of voters. 

The bill would make it illegal to verify the address of registered voters, cross-check voter registration lists to find individuals registered in multiple states, or remove registrants, no matter how much time has elapsed.

* Restores the Voting Rights Act. 

This provision would require states to obtain approval from the federal government before implementing any voting rules changes. It would also criminalize “hindering, interfering, or preventing” anyone from registering or voting.

* Bans state voter ID laws. 

This would force states to allow individuals to vote without an ID. They could merely sign a statement in which they claim they are who they say they are.

* Requires registration for those under 18 and allows same-day voter registration. 

Included is a clause that requires same-day voter registration to be implemented in time for the upcoming elections in 2022.

* Prohibits the publication of “misleading information” about elections. 

The bill makes it a federal crime to “communicate or cause to be communicated information” that is knowingly false and designed to discourage voting, carrying with it a sentence of up to five years.

* Mandates early voting and legalizes nationwide vote-by-mail. 

This provision requires states to provide for absentee vote-by-mail in elections for federal offices. They “may not require an individual to provide any form of identification as a condition of obtaining an absentee ballot.”

* Requires states to accept ballots 10 days after election day. 

The bill requires states to accept any mailed ballots postmarked before or on election day if they arrive within 10 days of the election. It allows states to expand that deadline.

* Requires “Campus Vote Coordinators” at higher institutes of learning. 

The bill would require colleges and universities to hire an official whose responsibility would be to inform students about elections and encourage voter registration. It would incentivize voter registration by giving grants to institutions that have a high registration rate.

* Mandates that states must make absentee voter boxes and curbside voting available for any election for federal office. 

The secured and clearly labeled drop boxes would be “available to all voters on a non-discriminatory basis” and “during all hours of the day.”

* Makes changes to oversight of campaign contributions. 

The bill mandates new restrictions for corporate participation in elections. It further suggests that “the Constitution should be amended so that Congress and the States may regulate and set limits on the raising and spending of money.”

* Makes changes to the composition of the FEC. 

The bill would decrease the number of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) members from six to five. Four members can be associated with a particular political party, making the fifth member “independent.”

* Changes “conflicts of interest” rules for the president and vice president. 

H.R. 1 would require the president and vice president to divest all financial interests that could pose a conflict of interest for them, their families, or anyone with whom they are negotiating or who is seeking employment in their administration. It would also require presidential candidates to provide their tax returns.