Jul.24

electoral-vote.com

Dem 51

   

GOP 49

Both Parties Introduce Election Bills

Both parties (naturally) have a keen interest in voting, but their approaches to it are quite different. The Republicans' bill, the "American Confidence in Elections Act," was introduced last week. It would urge states to adopt photo ID laws, would override some voting laws in D.C. (which Congress controls), and would ban the federal government from using political donor rolls. It is opposed by a coalition of 45 groups that want to protect voting rights, including ACLU, NAACP, SEIU, Brennan Center for Justice, NEA, and Verified Voting, among others. They note that the bill is not about confidence, but about voter suppression in many forms. Just as one example, Joe Biden has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to help people register to vote. This means that when potential voters have contact with various agencies, they will be encouraged to register and given help to do so. The Republicans' bill would cancel the XO.

Now the Democrats have introduced their bill, the "Freedom to Vote Act." It would expand voting access, reduce the influence of dark money, end gerrymandering, and safeguard the electoral process. Among other things, the bill:

• Requires early voting for at least 10 hours a day for at least 2 weeks prior to any election
• Allows no-excuse mail-in voting for any voter who asked for it; prevents ballots being rejected for minor reasons
• Makes sure individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to vote despite their disabilities
• Requires states that have an ID requirement to allow a wide variety of ID forms as well as alternative options
• Allows automatic registration when eligible voters have contact with a government agency unless they opt out
• Requires states to have same-day registration on Election Day
• Allows online voter registration in all states, something many states already allow
• Prevents unlawful voter purges
• Makes it a federal crime to trick voters about voting (e.g., no more "Voting is on Wednesday this year" stickers)
• Establishes a clear procedure for former felons to be reenfranchised
• Requires states to make sure that no voter has to stand in line more than 30 minutes to vote.
• Gives voters the right to sue if their right to vote has been violated
• Prohibits politicized removal of election officials
• Bans partisan gerrymandering
• Makes it easier for citizens to challenge district maps
• Requires any group that spends at least $10,000 in an election to publish the names of its major donors
• Improves enforcement of campaign laws
• Allows states to opt in for small donor matching for House elections
• Improves election security in many ways

If you are thinking, this sounds a lot like the old H.R. 1, you are right. It does. H.R. 1 passed the House in 2017, but was killed in the Senate. Democrats also plan to reintroduce H.R. 4 soon as well. It would patch up what is left of the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court took an ax to it.

The Democratic and Republican bills are almost diametrically opposed. There is no chance anyone from either party will vote for the other party's bill, so both are dead on arrival. The only way for either bill to pass would be for one party to get the trifecta and then abolish the Senate filibuster. (V)