Senate Republican Leader Calls Democrats’ Sweeping Election Reform Bill a Federal ‘Takeover’
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that Senate Bill 1 (S.1)—the For the People Act of 2021—is an attempt by Democrats to control the outcome of future elections by taking power away from state election officials. “There’s no rational basis for a federal government takeover of all 50 states’ elections,” McConnell said in a […]
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that Senate Bill 1 (S.1)—the For the People Act of 2021—is an attempt by Democrats to control the outcome of future elections by taking power away from state election officials. “There’s no rational basis for a federal government takeover of all 50 states’ elections,” McConnell said in a social media statement Tuesday. The U.S. Constitution gives the primary power of conducting elections to the state legislatures, with additional power to Congress to alter some laws related to running elections. "The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators," states the Constitution (pdf) in Article I, Section 4: States Conduct Congressional Elections. Congress has amended the Constitution several times ...
