[PORTLAND, ME] — For far too long, the voice and power of the American people, including Mainers, have continued to diminish each and every day, drowned out by powerful donors and distorted electoral systems. It’s time to reclaim our democracy.

To achieve meaningful change and truly live up to the promise of American democracy, the League of Women Voters of Maine (LWVME) and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections (MCCE) call for the passage of the For the People Act. This legislation was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 1 in 2019, when it was cosponsored by all members of the House Democratic caucus, including Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden. We thank them for their support and urge them to support this bill once more in this legislative session. 

The U.S. House of Representatives reintroduced H.R. 1. on January 4, 2021. The For the People Act is a once-in-a-generation democracy reform package to clean up our political system, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable for corruption, expand and protect voting rights, and create a democracy that values the voices of all Americans, including Mainers. 

Over 400 Maine people have signed a petition urging Congress to support and pass H.R. 1. This is part of a national campaign led by the Declaration for American Democracy, a coalition of more than 170 organizations, from labor, racial justice, voting rights, faith, environmental, women’s rights, good government, and many other important communities —  representing tens of millions of Americans.

“As the first state to create a public funding system for candidate campaigns, Maine has an important role to play in the national debate over how to reform our democracy,” said Anna Kellar, Executive Director for LWVME and MCCE. “Maine Citizens for Clean Elections will work with like-minded advocates around the country to pass H.R. 1 and to make sure that next time, candidates can run competitive races without being obligated to wealthy donors.”

We have a long road ahead of us to transform our democracy into one that is representative of all Americans, but we can start to make meaningful change if democracy reform is a priority.

“Once H.R. 1 passes in the U.S. House, we will ask Senator Susan Collins and Senator Angus King to support this critical bill in the Senate and to move our country forward,” said Kellar. 

The organizations issuing the petition are: League of Women Voters of Maine, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine Citizens for Clean Elections, Maine Conservation Voters, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine State Employees Association, Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

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The League of Women Voters of Maine (LWVME) and Maine Citizens for Clean Elections (MCCE), in collaboration as Democracy Maine, work together to make government more equitable, inclusive, and accessible by improving elections, protecting and engaging voters, and reducing the influence of private money in politics.