The more news stories that wrongfully declare a bill dead, the harder it is to mobilize people to fight for it — the declaration becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The beauty of the For The People Act is that it’s defense of democracy goes further than voting rights.

There’s no reason to believe a smaller, less effective bill would stand any better shot at gaining any Republican votes.

Instead of disingenuous bids for “bipartisan” probes that propel voter fraud myths, the path forward must begin by framing the problem honestly. 

It’s no coincidence that the vast preponderance of those who incited the insurrection by objecting to the counting of electoral votes were politicians who owed their perpetual re-election to gerrymandering. 

Trade associations sound innocuous but the term obscures what they really are: lobbying groups that advocate for policies that benefit specific business interests. Among the groups that could potentially qualify for loans under Collins’ and Rubio’s bill are PhRMA, the nation’s top drug lobby, and the American Chemistry Council, which represents big chemical and fossil fuel interests.

The most well-known benefit of RCV is ensuring that the winner of an election receives support from the majority of voters. This is critical in heavily contested elections.

Biden should be at the forefront of the democracy fight, especially as President Trump attempts to polarize voting by mail by promulgating myths about voter fraud. This requires a strong, clear, and detailed vision of what American democracy should look like. 

While much has rightfully been written about the “socialism” of Bernie Sanders' democratic socialism, the “democratic” portion of his platform is where he left a particularly indelible mark.

To ensure the legitimacy of this year’s elections, the media should offer regular, timely instructions about how to vote during this national emergency. And they should start right away, every day and in every publication.