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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVote-by-mail spurred controversy, fraud charges and maybe the Capitol riot -- now it may become
federal law
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https://www.rawstory.com/vote-by-mail/
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)Look, if 95% of America wants something like common sense gun laws the kGOP doesn't give a damn and vote against it.
If we can't vote then we can't make our reps do what we want no matter ... WHAT ... the issue is.
Voting is more important than gay rights, black lives mattering, women's rights, the economy, the environment etc etc cause again, If you can't vote your issue doesn't matter to those in the kGOP !!!
I looks like dems are going all out on this bill calling a number one bill ... I will do everything I can donate, call, phone bank, write, march etc etc .
I literally just posted this op response on voter laws (link) before I saw this
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15033128
saying dems need to error on going to far on protecting voter rights if we want continue winning seeing voter suppression efforts have worked so well.
soldierant
(6,945 posts)it may be at least equally important to rebuild the USPS - and remove some legislation Republicans passed specifically to shackle it - because if we don't have a functioning postal service, vote by mail becomes untenable.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)soldierant
(6,945 posts)neither can be fixed without also fixing the other.
Yeah, as a mobility challenged person I am well aware how much the USPS does.
And I'm also aware of how long it has been in jeopardy ... and how deep.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)thinkingagain
(906 posts)Across all the states.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... EVERYTHING imho because we were able to get loved ones to vote in the last election that would have had a hard time voting due to various reason even in MO.
This is worth fighting and giving it all for,
I FIRMLY believe the reason the polling the US has been so off so long tilted towards one party is because of voter suppression measures not being weighted correctly in polling.
We'll see, the kGOP will put all their weight behind fighting every inch of vote by mail ... they know that means its the end of them going forward if more dems are allowed to vote.
The details of the bill are gob smacking ... you thought the crazies came out on 1/6 watch them now
msfiddlestix
(7,288 posts)that "spurred" controversy with voting by mail.
Words have meaning. and Context is everything.
I know Raw Story isn't alone in misleading Headlines. News outlets and other publications need to be accountable for it.
Free Speech shouldn't cover Deception and Misinformation.
Just my 2 cents.
gab13by13
(21,480 posts)that makes 4 cents. I was pissed at the headline too.
We won because of mail in voting. I am from Pa. and I just got my notice from my county registration office asking if I want to vote by mail again this year, meanwhile the Pa. legislature is trying to ban no excuse mail in voting.
I have been voting in Pa. on a machine with no paper trail for decades and I jumped at the chance to vote by mail, it is much harder to cheat using paper ballots.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... lines to vote.
This bill is so ... so important and it looks like democrats are going in hard to get it done
msfiddlestix
(7,288 posts)Because it's how they've been "winning" elections for the past 20 years, in addition to all the other methods of disenfranchisement with voter suppression for the past century.
Struggle onward.
KayF
(1,345 posts)it makes it sound like the legislation mandates riots.
msfiddlestix
(7,288 posts)I mean like it isn't as if this a new tactic as hooks for clicking. But what pray tell, is so difficult to articulate a summary heading for a story with accuracy? I mean if one is a writer by profession... what the hell is the problem?
Voltaire2
(13,244 posts)Ruby Zee
(170 posts)Works great in Oregon!
Voter Verified Paper Ballots - yeah
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... one and that would cause some dem seats to be more vulnerable but the number of rep seats would far out number dem seats.
The Mouth
(3,169 posts)A joke over 200 years old: "It's 'gerrymandering' when they do it, and 'fair districts' when we do it."
The only 'fair' way would be to require the smallest, most contiguous districts mathematically possible with no exceptions.
gab13by13
(21,480 posts)I know that California has a non-partisan or bi-partisan commission draw up the districts. There may be other states, but not many.
justgamma
(3,667 posts)we're all Con now and they want to change it so they can gerrymander to their hearts content.
reACTIONary
(5,790 posts)... with the top x candidates getting a seat.?
iluvtennis
(19,897 posts)that believes in democracy would want to allow as much of the electorate who wanted to vote to vote.
Instead of supporting democracy, the rethugs do everything to suppress it.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)BarbD
(1,194 posts)uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... suppression effort they can to keep people from voting.
These voter suppression efforts ... WORK .. they work well and is the main reason I believe the polling in America has been so off, so long and tilted towards one political party when things get close.
The polling in GA for a runoff was unusually accurate for a runoff, imho, due to lack of suppression efforts by the SoS at the time.
ancianita
(36,204 posts)can be built into the drop shute of the box.
"Secure," imo, would be drop boxes with a) alarms that go off if they are lifted, broken into, etc., and b) 24/7 camera coverage in well lit and open space that shows all lines of approach, and
c) FBI vetted transport workers pick up and deliver contents.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... ballot boxes because they're crazy.
They will even implement fake ones like they did in California
I truly believe this is something to go all out on, without voting it doesn't matter if 95% of America agrees with something the kGOP will keep it from being implemented.
ancianita
(36,204 posts)Can't be too careful.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)ancianita
(36,204 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,543 posts)ancianita
(36,204 posts)PatrickforO
(14,602 posts)Republicans won't like it, of course. Makes things too easy for people of color.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... they can't suppress votes any longer.
PatrickforO
(14,602 posts)under their slimy rocks.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)I know states run their own elections, but it's not unreasonable to require some standardization. It's absolutely wrong that it's easier to vote in one state than another. That's like statewide voter disenfranchisement.
Sancho
(9,070 posts)...so I'm for 100% mail in ballots. No lines, no touch screens, and no problem.
Here in the sunshine state, a lot of issues could be resolved if we were 100% mail/drop off.
Paper ballots can be recounted.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,696 posts)Turin_C3PO
(14,119 posts)thats why Manchin, Sinema, and any other Dem against nuking the filibuster should really reconsider their stance.
Oldem
(833 posts)But if it can't be done by Congress, more states should do it. (It wouldn't have to be made law in every state to make a huge difference.) It's probably already part of Stacey Abrams' program, for instance. If this can't be done from the top down, it must be done from the grass roots up. It will be the death of the modern repug party and force conservatives to rally around the few sane leaders they have left.
CaptainTruth
(6,615 posts)I support the goal, but we need to be really careful with this one.
Donald Trump just lost 60+ lawsuits because Federal courts ruled they (& the Federal govt) didn't have the jurisdiction/authority to tell states how to run their elections. His challenges were only legally valid to the State Supreme Court level, SCOTUS didn't get involved, & the Executive Branch (Trump) wasn't able to order states to throw out ballots because States control their own elections, not the Federal government.
Again, let's be really careful here & be aware of unintended consequences.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... error on the side of going all out and too far on eradicating voter suppression the kGOP's current voter suppression efforts will make 2022 and beyond even harder to win.
Voter suppression works, just look at the GA Runoff where the polls became more accurate than usual because VSM wasn't enacted statewide by the SoS.
BumRushDaShow
(129,878 posts)Election Improvements
HAVA provides funds in order for states to replace outdated voting machines, create a system of provisional balloting, create a computerized voter registration system, train poll workers and change election day procedures. Provisional balloting allows a person who's name does not appear on the voter roll to cast a ballot which will be reviewed and checked later on. New election day procedures improve access for the disabled and require that a new voter who registered by mail show identification the first time that they vote.
In addition, as a result of HAVA, a new federal voter registration form was created in order to make it easier for a new voters to register. In addition, if someone fills out a provisional ballot, and it is rejected as a ballot for the current election, it will serve as a voter registration form for the next election. New voting equipment is required to give the voter a "second chance" meaning that if there is a possible mistake on the ballot, they must be notified about it before leaving the polling place.
HAVA also calls for more voter education, a "Voters Bill of Rights" to be posted in all polling places, election day registration and the ability for anyone to request an absentee ballot for any reason. Although many of the goals were set to be completed before the 2004 elections, the ultimate goals of HAVA are set to be completed before the 2006 elections.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/hava
H.R.2 - National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (a/k/a "Motor Voter Law" )
National Voter Registration Act of 1993 - Requires each State to establish Federal election voter registration procedures by: (1) application made simultaneously with a driver's license application; (2) mail; and (3) application in person at a designated Federal, State, or nongovernmental office, or at the applicant's residential registration site in accordance with State law.
Declares that this Act does not apply to any State that has no voter registration requirement with respect to elections for Federal office and/or in which voters may register at the polling place at the time of a general election for Federal office.
(Sec. 5) Declares that each State motor vehicle license application (or renewal application) shall simultaneously serve as a voter registration application with respect to Federal elections, unless the applicant fails to sign the voter registration application. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) forms and procedures; and (2) transmittal deadlines.
(Sec. 6) Requires each State to use the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission (Commission). Authorizes a State to develop its own form provided it meets the requirements of this Act.
Authorizes a State to require first-time voters to vote in person, with exceptions for overseas and handicapped or elderly persons.
Authorizes the removal of a voter application in the case of an undelivered (returned) notice of an application made by mail.
More: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2
How the federal government implements voter laws at the national level is that such legislation would be effective for "federal elections" and what a state does for their state/county/municipal elections is up to them (e.g., special elections, primaries, etc). Usually the key piece for this would also mean the federal government would provide funding to carry it out (vs being what is often dubbed an "unfunded mandate" ).
The 62 ridiculous lawsuits that got thrown out were mostly due to the plaintiffs yelling about "fraud" but unable to show evidence of it, so they switched it up, literally mid-case, and then started arguing that a state "wasn't following their state law/Constitution", and the state courts responding with rolled eyes while the federal courts threw it back saying that the plaintiffs needed to deal with their "problem" in their state courts.
If the federal government wasn't "allowed" to implement election law at the federal level, then the Voting Rights Act of 1965 wouldn't have come about (although the courts have chipped away at it recently by throwing out Sections 4 & 5 dealing with "pre-clearance" for a specific set of states, where the argument was that the list was "outdated" ).
colorado_ufo
(5,742 posts)Colorado has been voting by mail for years and has it down to a science. Did you notice that no one questioned Colorado's results?
This has got to pass! Joe is doing an AWESOME job! They have turned loose the Democratic Kraken!
yellowdogintexas
(22,288 posts)which we can return at any time during the year should we decide to use it.
Of course, only over 65, disabled and prior mail in voters receive them. Since Texans do not have party choice on our registration we have to take pot luck on voters, but we usually figure out who the Republicans are by their primary voting history and they will not get ballot applications in the future.
After TDP started doing this, our voting numbers improved. When our county commissioners voted to allow voters to go to any precinct in the county on election day to vote regardless of where they live, the percentages increased again. Having 300+ voting locations on Election Day that are equitally scattered across the county is great! There are four locations within 10 minutes from our house. It is a big help to the Election Judges too.
We still have early voting (50 locations) and our elections office had a great plan already in place for our one drop off location when folks started dropping off their absentee ballots rather than mail them.
All of the high population counties are now using this format as well as about half of the remaining counties. Harris (Houston) had 700 in person voting locations for Election Day. Voters love it because they do not have to rush to get home to vote.
Goodheart
(5,351 posts)invests state legislatures with the power to choose voting methods for presidential elections.
Would be a silly move by state legislatures to have separate voting arrangements on election day for the presidency and for Congress, so, all in all, this would be a great leap forward.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)Goodheart
(5,351 posts)The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but Congress may at any time make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Place of chusing Senators.
The Seventeenth Amendment took away the power of state legislatures to choose their state Senators:
"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote." The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.
uponit7771
(90,370 posts)AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Amaryllis
(9,526 posts)a lot of grief, controversy and problems if they made all ballots due on election day. THere is no reason to extend the deadline if they get the ballots out soon enough. We get ours about two weeks ahead of time; sometimes sooner. Even homeless people can vote in Oregon. You can mail them back; put them in official drop boxes, or take to county elections.
I gave mine to my mail carrier and got a notice the next day that it had arrived at county elections. You can always check the status of your ballot.
What it takes is election officials who are dedicated to ensuring anyone who is eligible can vote.
JohnnyRingo
(18,673 posts)It's really not that hard to get a ballot postmarked before a reasonable date that allows for counting the votes on election day. Sure, we've seen how partisan directors can slow the mail, but late votes can be counted as provisional in the event of a close one.
I don't want to wait two weeks to know who won.
On edit:
I now see the word postmarked in the OP.
zaj
(3,433 posts)..., which I don't think is even legally possible, it's not going to become federal law right now. There isn't one Republican in the Senate that would vote for this. They are ALL united in voter supression.
Even if they aren't all united in a violent coup where Republicans might get killed.
Jersey Devil
(9,879 posts)I think that is the plan but can't figure out how they could do it under reconciliation.
BumRushDaShow
(129,878 posts)(e.g., if the federal government was willing to pay for return postage for example). But since reconciliation involving funds is already in play (the COVID relief bill) then they would have to wait until next year to do something like this via reconciliation.
There are only 3 "categories" of legislation that can use reconcilliation (which is a budget tool) - something that deals with "spending" and/or something that deals with "revenues" (e.g., that tax cuts for the wealthy law that was done in 2017 used reconciliation), or something that deals with the "debt (limit)" (I expect raising the debt ceiling or doing some kind of cap), and each type can only be used once in a year.
Jersey Devil
(9,879 posts)because reconciliation was not used for last year's budget. Heard that on MSNBC and CNN.
BumRushDaShow
(129,878 posts)but they normally have to be done as one each by category. There may be a technicality about calendar year vs fiscal year and if they can finagle the COVID Relief package as a "FY21 budget reconciliation" (although appropriations bills had already been passed for FY21), then they could possibly use the spending reconciliation again later to be effective for FY22 (where FY21 ends September 30, 2021).
Merlot
(9,696 posts)uponit7771
(90,370 posts)... terrorist to the very forefront.
BobTheSubgenius
(11,573 posts)I'm not particularly happy about the "10 day" rule, though. A return of malfeasance to the USPS isn't impossible.
flying_wahini
(6,684 posts)Lonestarblue
(10,138 posts)Ive never voted by mail, so some of my suggestions may already be a part of mail ballots.
1. Print ballots with clear directions and color clues for where voters are to sign, for example, all places where a signature is required in yellow. Ive seen this often on financial documents Ive been sent for signature and it helps ensure that Ive signed in all needed places.
2. If a privacy envelope is required for the vote to remain hidden, clearly mark that on the outside of the envelope with a color highlight.
3. Insert a separate short checklist for the voter, listing each step in completing the ballot; e.g., did you sign on line 33 and date your ballot.
4. Include a mail by date on the checklist.
I have a feeling that ballots designed by Republicans are intended to be confusing.
Another issue that needs to addressed is the current attempt by Republican legislatures to change how voters can be registered. Republicans have long objected to independent groups like Stacey Abrams Fair Fight being able to register voters. If they change the laws so that people may only register to vote in person at a government office, registrations will drop dramatically.
AncientOfDays
(164 posts)Oregon is total Vote by Mail - for decades.
No serious complaints on election integrity.
MurrayDelph
(5,302 posts)you read about a low-level clerk getting caught bubbling in votes for down-ballot candidates where the actual voter had left it blank. They always fill in the bubble for the Republican.
UCmeNdc
(9,601 posts)machine makers. Especially ES&S voting machines.
sarge43
(28,946 posts)Politicub
(12,165 posts)Even if we can get it passed through legislation, the Trump judges will fuck over the people to keep the GOP in power.
The task ahead is massive.
hibbing
(10,112 posts)These hours long lines have got to be eliminated. They have to limit, reduce, make it harder to vote. It is ALWAYS Republicans that come up with these voter ID laws. We need to make it much easier.
Peace
Nitram
(22,945 posts)judesedit
(4,443 posts)There must be a paper trail. None of this electronic crap with no receipt showing the choices you made. Just the fact that there is no receipt is fishy. Elections need to be above board.
Retrograde
(10,175 posts)While eastern ones can't, I ask for the umpteenth time.
California - largest number of voters in the country - ran the November election by mail with little problem. Oregon and Washington have been doing mail elections exclusively for years. Even Utah - not known as a liberal, progressive state - does mail elections. Maybe our new senator, Mr. Padilla, can give the rest of Congress some clues on how to run a massive election (over % turnout statewide) efficiently.
Nululu
(842 posts)Our mailboxes were vandalized/broken into. They belong to the Post Office. They are community boxes.
After reporting to the police I tried contacting USPS customer service, the wait time was 60 minutes. I've left messages twice with no return call.
The USPS is needed to recover, the sooner the better. Fire and replace the saboteurs.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,375 posts)Blue Owl
(50,547 posts)I've had enough GOP cheating for one lifetime
Tarheel_Dem
(31,249 posts)Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)SmartVoter22
(639 posts)but they cannot change a state's administrative election laws & regulations. For too many good reasons to list here.
Congress, can changeaspects for the one election option they do control...that being the unique ballot the "President & Vice-President Only Ballot".
This is a ballot that is available; at any voting location anywhere in the nation on election day which you only vote for just the President & Vice-President.
You can walk into any polling location, on election day and without having to register to vote in the state you happen to be in, present a valid and current photo ID from your current home state and choose the President & Vice-President you'd like. There are no other candidates or offices on the "Presidential Only" ballot
Here's what I think Congress can do:
If Congress decides to change the requirements or procedures to cast one of those 'Prez Only' ballots, they certainly can.
SCOTUS has protected states rights to administer elections, but they also protected Congress' rights to administer this unique and rarely used ballot. It's a 2002 HAVA Act protection for the voting accessibility issue: that voters who are not in their home state, on election day may cast a ballot for the Offices of President and Vice-President of the United States by simply showing up at any local voting location, showing a valid and current Photo ID from thier home state and be given this unique ballot. They vote and these ballots are counted.
So Congress can change a few simple things, to expand access for these unique ballots; like early voting periods, but they can also put a noose around the neck of Voter Suppression by setting early voting times and locations, set voter qualifications and methods of casting a ballot for this unique simple ballot plus remove any state restirctions like; probationary periods, past due fines, skin color, areligious and gender identity and maybe even, space laser proximity.
(OK, I got off track a bit, but you get the idea of what Congress can do.)
It's Congress' choice regarding these 'Prez Only' ballots as this is a federal only ballot, nothing on it from any state, county or municipality.
They could set the voter qualifications to cast a ballot; like felony convictions does not disqualify a voter nor does probationary periods or past due fines disqualify a voter from voting with a Prez only ballot. Early voting periods for this one type of ballot could be weeks long prior to election day and what type of Real ID is compliant with the 2002's HAVA (Help America Vote Act) Act.
I am pretty sure it's Congress' choice, but may be wrong for the Prez Only Ballot.
If Congress does change the laws/regulations for that type of ballot, the states will have to adapt their own ballots, which often include the offices of Prez & VP, to be compliant with any new rules. Congress can reduce the GOP efforts to expand restrictions, early voting, voting by mail, etc by simply changing the requirements it sets for these two elected offices.
Some states will surely try to enact the obvious suppression option, if Congress actually does something like I suggest.
You might have to fill out two ballots on election day.
One ballot with 'Prez Only' and one for all the other statewide, county & municipal elected offices?
We could assume the GOP wants only the whitest, space laser dodging, gun-toting emotionally dwarfed T-rumped patriots to use.
Two ballots? I think that will be a hard sell.