DFAD Messaging Guidance: Response to False Claims on ACE Act
Important Instructions: Below find the arguments we’ve seen used to describe the ACE Act. To help debunk false claims about our elections, and discuss the real solutions to ensuring we have a representative multi-racial democracy, please echo the DFAD response below.
| Pro- ACE Act Messaging | DFAD Response | FTVA |
| States have the primary role in establishing election law and administering elections. | In recent years, we’ve seen a wave of anti-voter legislation passed and introduced in states across this country. We need national standards for voting to ensure every citizen can have their voice heard in Government. |
The Freedom to Vote Act would increase confidence in our elections by creating national standards for federal elections to ensure that every eligible American has the freedom to vote. |
| All eligible voters must be able to vote, and all lawful votes must be counted. | The anti-voter policies included in the ACE Act will disenfranchise millions of voters, and have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. |
The Freedom to Vote Act would ensure that every eligible voter has the freedom to vote by mail, a safe and secure method of voting that helps elderly, disabled, and working Americans cast their ballots. |
| Allows states to use REAL ID as proof of citizenship. | Widespread voter fraud doesn’t exist. Strict Voter ID laws create deliberate and unnecessary barriers to the ballot that disproportionately impact Black, Latino, Native American, elderly, and low-income voters. | In the Freedom to Vote Act, voters can use a broad array of identifiers to confirm their citizenship, from an ID to a utility bill. That ways states that want to verify voters can do so in a way that doesn’t put up unnecessary barriers to voting. |
| Prohibits Non-Citizens from Voting | The constitution guarantees that every U.S. Citizen has the right to vote – and it’s the responsibility of Congress to meet that requirement.
As far as access to voting beyond citizenship, it’s up to the local municipalities and states to decide. |
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| Will exercise Congress’ responsibility over D.C. to implement election integrity measures outlined in the model state legislation. | Over 700,000 residents live in the district of Columbia. That’s over 200,000 more residents than the state of Wyoming.
D.C. already lacks representation in Congress. For Congress to overhaul D.C. voting laws and put themselves in power is a power grab and absolute travesty. We must respect DC’s autonomy and the will of the voters. |
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| Protects Americans’ First Amendment right to speak political views and support candidates, causes and organizations without fear of retribution. | The purpose of disclosure is to curb corruption and even the appearance of corruption. That’s why we need to pass laws to bring more sunlight to our spending so that voters can follow-the-money. Voters deserve to know how money influences their elections. |
The Freedom to Vote Act would shine a light on secret money in politics and would amplify the voices of everyday people by curbing the influence of big and secret money in politics |
| Attacks on Vote-By-Mail | Vote by mail is safe, secure, and helps eligible voters participate in our elections. | |
| Small Donor Financing | Small donor financing programs give political power to everyday Americans–boosting their influence and voice in our elections–and ensuring that wealthy donors do not have an outsized influence.
These programs have bipartisan support and have been successful in red, purple, and blue states. Attempts to prohibit small donor financing at the federal level shows Republicans’ commitment to big donors and corporations – at the expense of everyday people. |
Amplifies the voices of everyday people. |
| Free Speech | Our current pay-to-play system silences the voices of Black, brown, young, and new Americans and gives unchecked power to the wealthy few. It is time to end the dominance of big corporations and big money in our politics. |