February 10, 2021
Washington, DC
Conservatives are united in opposing H.R. 1, the attempt by House and Senate Democrats to fundamentally undermine the American electoral system. We further oppose any effort to modify budget reconciliation rules to pass this legislation.
While they cloak the bill in terms of “restoring democracy” and “preventing corruption,” the legislation has one goal: to protect incumbents, at the expense of the First Amendment, federalism, and individual voter integrity.
H.R. 1 undermines the First Amendment. H.R. 1 undoes key Supreme Court cases that protect elections as fundamental to free speech. It would allow the Federal Election Commission to track and catalogue more of what Americans are saying, register even very small political donations, and make public those who donate to different charitable and nonprofit organizations. The legislation will subject private citizens to intimidation and harassment for their private and political beliefs, far broader than what was done in the IRS targeting scandal in 2013.
H.R. 1 yanks election authority away from the states. H.R. 1 reasserts the ability of the federal government to micromanage state elections through a process known as “preclearance.” Preclearance, which was previously overturned by the Supreme Court, requires states to get permission from the federal government for changes as small as modifying the hours of an election office, or moving a voting location from a school gym to the library. Critically, none of these practices would undo any fraud or corruption. Rather, these same practices result in incorrect registrations and inaccurate voter data, while failing to address actual corrupt practices like ballot harvesting. Moreover, they are all designed to eliminate the federalism that keeps elections transparent, local, and fair.
H.R. 1 attacks individual voter integrity. America was founded on the principle of “one person, one vote.” H.R. 1 turns this on its head by weaponizing every aspect of the political regulatory system. The Federal Election Commission, which is currently a neutral body, would be given a 3-2 makeup, guaranteeing a partisan outcome with little accountability toward the actual votes which are cast. H.R. 1 also includes a 600 percent government match for political donations, and authorizes even more public dollars to campaigns. The bill also wants to make Election Day a new paid holiday for government workers, with additional paid vacation given to bureaucrats to oversee the polls. All of these changes are designed to distance the outcome of the election from those casting their votes.
H.R. 1 would also implement the following changes:
- Forces states to implement mandatory voter registration, removing civic participation as a voluntary choice, and increasing chances for error.
- Mandates that states allow all felons to vote.
- Forces states to extend periods of early voting, which has shown to have no effect on turnout.
- Mandates same-day voter registration, which encourages voter fraud.
- Limits the ability of states to cooperate to see who is registered in multiple states at the same time.
- Prohibits election observers from cooperating with election officials to file formal challenges to suspicious voter registrations.
- Criminalizes protected political speech by making it a crime to “discourage” someone from voting
- Bars states from making their own laws about voting by mail.
- Prohibits chief election officials in each state from participating in federal election campaigns.
- Mandates free mailing of absentee ballots.
- Mandates that states adopt new redistricting commissions.
H.R. 1 would cause sweeping and irrevocable damage to the free speech, privacy, and integrity that are central components to free and fair elections in America. We oppose H.R. 1 in the strongest terms and urge all conservatives to do likewise.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project President, Republic Book Publishers |
| Tom McClusky President March for Life Action |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
| L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
| The Honorable Russ Vought Director Office of Management and Budget (2020-2021) |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
| The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
| William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
The Honorable Matt Schlapp Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) |
| Penny Y. Nance President & CEO Concerned Women for America |
Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
Scott T. Parkinson VP for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
| The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President & CEO, Conservative Partnership Institute |
| Tim Chapman Executive Director Stand for America |
The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
| The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
| Wesley Denton Chief Operating Officer Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
| Rachel Bovard Senior Director of Policy Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) |
Lisa B. Nelson |
| Thomas Fitton President Judicial Watch, Inc. |
The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
| James C. Dobson, Ph.D. Founder & President Dr. James Dobson Family Institute |
David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
| Grover Norquist President Americans for Tax Reform |
The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli Visiting Fellow Heritage Foundation |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan, 1985-1988 |
The Honorable Donald J. Devine Director U.S. Office of Personnel Management (1981-1985) |
| Michael Farris CEO Alliance Defending Freedom |
Carrie Lukas President Independent Women’s Forum |
| Heather R. Higgins CEO Independent Women’s Voice |
Joseph R. Gregory CEO Gregory Mgt. Co. |
| John McLaughlin CEO McLaughlin & Associates |
Frank J. Gaffney Executive Chairman Center for Security Policy |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
Mike Davis Founder and President Article III Project (A3P) |
| Justin Danhof, Esq. General Counsel National Center for Public Policy Research |
The Honorable Tom DeLay Former Majority Leader U.S. House of Representatives |
| Kristan Hawkins President Students for Life Action |
J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
| Lewis K. Uhler Founder and President National Tax Limitation Committee |
E.W. Jackson President STAND Foundation, Inc. |
| Terry Schilling President American Principles Project |
Annette Thompson Meeks CEO Freedom Foundation of Minnesota |
| Rev. Frank Pavone National Director Priests for Life |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Richard Manning President Americans for Limited Government |
Marc Little Chair Center for Urban Renewal and Education |
| Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Rod D. Martin Founder and CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Christina Murphy Lusk President The Martin Foundation |
| Lourdes Cosio Campaign for the American Future |
Guillermo J. Aragon Chief Financial Officer Martin Imaging, Inc. |
| Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Haley E. Martin Past President The Martin Foundation |
| Rod Vandenbos CEO R2 |
Steve Berger Founder Grace Chapel |
| Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Ventures |
Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
| Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
Martha Boneta President VAF |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Seton Motley President Less Government |
| Floyd Brown President Western Center for Journalism |
Benjamin R. Case |
| Debbie Georgatos Host, America, Can We Talk? CWT Publications, LLC |
Michael J. Horowitz CEO 21st Initiatives |
| Michelle Easton President Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women |
Peggy Dau Representative IranAliveMinistries |
| G. Eric Georgatos Executive Producer America Can We Talk? |
Rob Chambers Vice President AFA Action |
| Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
Jay Mount President MDS Communications Corporation |
| Gary Marx President The Concord Fund |
Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
| Allen Roth President Secure America Now |
Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
| Richard D. Hayes Partner Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, LLP |
Kielle C. Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
| Debbie Wuthnow President iVoterGuide |
Eunie Smith President Emeritus Eagle Forum |
| Jack Park Conservative Activist and Donor Law Offices of Jack Park |
Leigh Bortins Owner Classical Conversations |
| The Honorable Jake Hoffman Representative Arizona House of Representatives |
Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
| Penna Dexter Co-host Point of View Radio |
Kathleen Patten President & CEO American Target Advertising, Inc. |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Amapola Hansberger President and Founder Legal Immigrants for America |
| Daniel Perrin Founder HSA Coalition |
Sean Noble President American Encore |
| Amy Kremer Chairwoman Women for America First |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Kylie Jane Kremer Executive Director Women for America First |
Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
| James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
| The Honorable Peter J. Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
Donald L. Woodsmall Principal Arromid, LLC |
| Randy M. Long Founder Long Business Advisors, LLC |
Andresen Blom President Hawaiian Values |
| Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| The Honorable Diana Denman President The Reagan Legacy Forum |
Nancy Schulze Founder, President RCW Speakers |
| Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
Adam Kincaid President & Executive Director Fair Lines America |
| Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
The Honorable Mike Hill Former Member Florida State House |
| William W. Pascoe, III Board Member Tea Party Patriots Action |
Tim Wildmon President American Family Association |
| Dr. John Tyler Professor HBU |
Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) |
| Jennifer Braceras Director Independent Women’s Law Center |
Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
| Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
Wade Kirby Director of Development GSWA |
| Raymond J. LaJeunesse, Jr. Vice President & Legal Director National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation |
Mark Mix President National Right to Work Committee |
| Barry Meguiar President Ignite America |
Khadine Ritter Chairman Eagle Forum of Ohio |
| Dr. Richard Lee President There’s Hope America |
Curt Levey President Committee for Justice |
| Ashley Baker Director of Public Policy Committee for Justice |
Chad Connelly President Faith Wins |
| E.C. Sykes General Partner Aslan Ventures |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
