I have been thinking about the Voting Legislation a lot
It seems to me there are several sub-categories in the bills.
1. Rules which have been part of the landscape for so long we are accustomed to them and don't see them as oppressive. This is redundant but solidifies the Legislature and the Governor's determination to lock them and publicize them. examples are: lack of drop boxes, one location for hand delivering a mail in ballot and only one day to do this. ( the temporary COVID regulations expanded the drop off period to the entire early voting period)
2. Changes used due to COVID which were well received by voters and increased turnout. ( two days of 24 hour voting and drive through voting in Harris county ) These changes were very innovative and effective. However the Lege has determined we do not deserve to have them and are formally prohibiting them
3. Potential changes which would bring our Election Code up to speed with other states (and which would be very popular with our voters)
4. Code changes which would further inhibit voting: changing purge rules to remove voters who have not voted with a certain number of years. If this # is 6 or more years it is actually an improvement; i doubt this will be the outcome. Currently the voter registration card must be returned as undeliverable two election cycles in a row; if that voter comes in to vote, we can change the address and give the voter a change of address form which goes to the elections office at the end of the day. there is no mention of allowing a same day registration for voters who have been purged.
The requirement to request a mail in ballot every January goes back to the early days of mail in ballots. It is a drawn out process which is not necessary. We can print the application from the Elections web page, complete it and mail it but not everyone has a computer or even knows this can be done. No one can vote on an application, and the applications are tagged to the voter's registration. Just because you receive an application does not necessarily mean you will turn it in to receive ballots
We should be able to request mail in ballots without having to give a reason. The (Democratic) KY governor and (Republican) SecState agreed to mail applicatons to every registered voter in the state, installed drop boxes and set up voting stations in large buildings which allowed social distancing while increasing the number of voters who could vote at one time. The locations were chosen for space, location, & parking availability. The election ran very smoothly with no "fraud" issues.
if the Commonwealth can send applications universally, every state should be able to.
As far as I can tell. our taxpayer funds have not been used to send unsolicited applications; private groups or candidates can do so.
This also applies to Voter Registration. In addition, there is no reason for a registration to take a month to be processed. Several counties have reported issues with Voter Applications turned in at the DMV do not always make it to the Elections office; applications have been found in wastebaskets at the DMV