A Modest Proposal to Fix Voting Rights for All Americans

A Modest Proposal to Fix Voting Rights

“But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. We have been called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all Republicans-we are all Federalists.”  Thomas Jefferson

I love voting.

I love going to the polling place, standing in line, getting my ballot, making my choices and casting my vote.

I love voting!

The right to vote is the single most important right we Americans hold. Freedom of speech only exists because we have the right to vote. Same with freedom of religion. Same with freedom of the press. Every single right we possess exists because we have the right to vote.

Our country is so polarized now that no issue seems open to compromise. Even the right to vote has become a political football between the two major parties. Each seems to view voting rights as a means to an end – leading to their own election. That is un-American. That is wrong. To paraphrase Edward R. Murrow, we must dig deep in our history and our doctrine. The right to vote must transcend political party maneuvering. Voting rights must be seen as civil rights enjoyed by all eligible Americans. Voting rights are American rights.

Why are voting rights so important to our history? When the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence, the guiding principle was “no taxation without representation.” Representation. The right to vote. The Founding Fathers were clear. Voting rights are at the core of our national purpose statement. When Washington gambled everything on the crossing of the Delaware, his men were fighting for the right to vote. Of course we know the Founding Fathers were inconsistent. Women were denied the right to vote. So were people who did not own property. And parts of the country believed that it was moral and justified to own human beings as property. The freedom of those human beings was won during the Civil War whose conclusion vastly expanded voting rights. Countless women gathered together to force the nation to expand voting rights to include them. Once they got the right to vote, the Suffragettes worked hard to expand voting rights. Medgar Evers was murdered because he was trying to expand voting rights. In World War I and World War II we fought to support nations that guaranteed voting rights. Simply stated, the right to vote is the fundamental right of all eligible American citizens.

In the spirit, I have attempted to cobble together a modest proposal to expand voting rights to all eligible Americans. I’ve read the concerns of the Republican Party about guaranteeing election security and integrity. I have read the concerns of the Democratic Party about infringements to voting rights. I have tried to steer the discussion toward ideas both parties could support. I begin with the following three propositions with which I hope every Republican and every Democrat in this country would agree.

First, the right to vote is a sacred and fundamental right of every eligible American.

Second, government has a responsibility to make sure that elections are fair, honest, and that all voters are correctly registered.

Third, in the spirit of the intent of the Founding Fathers, government should do all it can to encourage, enable, and equip all eligible Americans to vote.

Are you with me so far?

Here is my five-part proposal. It recognizes that what works and what is needed in Alaska may be different from what is needed and what works in Mississippi or New York or Rhode Island. It trusts that state governments and local communities with proper guidance can find appropriate adaptations of these principles to conform with local needs. However, it insists that those three principles must guide all decisions made to voting registration, voting procedures, and election management. Neither party will be allowed to suppress votes for political advantage. Neither party will be allowed to manipulate voting registration to their advantage. Neither party will be allowed to pick who gets to register to vote. Let us trust American democracy to correct any problems with our country. If the Democrats have better ideas, let them win the election. If the Republicans have better ideas let them win the election.

My  Bipartisan Proposal to Guarantee Voting Rights

(1)  One month before any election, the Secretary of State of each state should communicate with every citizen of the state. The communication should be brief, clear, and unambiguous. It should offer any and all government assistance with the process of registering to vote. It should clearly state the local polling place for the recipient. It should clearly state any early voting or absentee voting hours and locations. It should contain easy instructions for reaching a government official who can answer any questions about voting registration. Finally, it should encourage every eligible citizen to register to vote.

(2) Election day is on Tuesday due to the needs of an agrarian society in the 18th century. We need to realistically assess that the fundamental nature of Americans in the workplace has changed dramatically since the passage of the Constitution. Therefore every state should offer one full week of early, in person, voting. Hours and locations should be convenient. Remember, we recognize that the end goal of this proposal is to encourage every American to vote. By offering one full week of early voting, including hours on Saturday and Sunday, we can remove barriers that keep many working Americans from casting a ballot. It will shorten lines on Election Day. It will also lower the chance of fraud by having less of a burden on overworked election judges on a single day.

(3) America depends on a citizen army of volunteer poll judges at every election. Every polling station should have one well-trained, nonpartisan voting rights ombudsman who could immediately and authoritatively answer questions regarding eligibility to vote. If a voter was unsure if they were in the right polling place, correctly registered, or had already cast an absentee ballot, they could get an answer on the spot. The ombudsman would have access to voting laws and registration information, much the same as poll workers do. However the ombudsman would have the authority to straighten out many questions of confusion. They could help coordinate the casting of provisional ballots, give immediate information about correct polling places, and settle many questions about registration procedures without slowing down the line of people trying to cast ballots. Of course, other watchdogs and safeguards would be in place. But a nonpartisan aide can help speed up the process and ensure accuracy and citizen involvement.

(4) The genius of America is in our democracy and in our reliance on initiative and private business to solve American problems. Many communities in America have antiquated voting machines. Even within the same general jurisdiction, voting procedures may change from one polling place to another. Each state will be encouraged to make their voting laws and procedures simpler, more concise, and uniform throughout their state. Nevada is a great example for the nation of a state that uses modern technology and more streamlined voting laws to allow citizens greater involvement in every election.

(5) Every high school and community college should have a voting registrar. So should every Post Office and driver’s license facility. Students can be registered when they sign up for classes. Same with drivers and new community members. In Illinois, becoming a voting registrar is easy. Let’s get citizens involved. Let’s make it easy to register accurately, honestly and swiftly. Local solutions to local problems.

I recognize that these modest reforms will cost money.  But we need to honor the Founding Fathers by prioritizing voting rights.

  What Did I Leave Out?

You’re probably reading this post because you already care about voting rights. In my attempt to steer a middle ground, I have avoided questions of voter ID laws, felons voting and other hot button topics. I have avoided having the federal government dictate to state governments how to run local elections. I have not addressed the right of citizens living in the District of Columbia to vote. Each of these is an important topic. However, if we agree that every level of government should encourage, enable, and equip every eligible citizen to vote, the solutions will be found in the votes that are cast. As more and more Americans vote, more solutions  to the problems of America will be found. I trust the collective wisdom of the American people.

Jefferson was right.

Before we think of ourselves as Republican or Democratic, liberal or conservative, let us start by first recognizing we are all Americans. Let’s reshape our thinking about elections. Let’s tell both political parties not to play games with voting rights. Voting rights are American rights.