Voter Identification

• No eligible voter shall be denied the right to vote due to lack of specific identification. Alternative methods of verification, such as affidavits and provisional ballots, shall be accepted.

Voter Registration and Purges

• Voter registration databases must be maintained accurately and transparently, with clear protocols to ensure no eligible voter is mistakenly removed. Regular audits and notifications to voters prior to any removal shall be mandatory.

Gerrymandering

• Electoral district boundaries shall be drawn by independent, non-partisan commissions to ensure fair representation. District maps must comply with guidelines that prevent favoring or disfavoring any political party or group.

Voting Access

• States must ensure an adequate number of polling places, particularly in minority and underserved communities, to minimize wait times and increase accessibility.
• Early voting periods shall be standardized and extended to provide ample opportunity for all citizens to vote, including weekends and evenings.

Absentee and Mail-In Voting

• Absentee and mail-in voting shall be made accessible to all voters without requiring a specific excuse. Clear and simple procedures shall be established for requesting, casting, and counting absentee ballots.

Felony Disenfranchisement

• The right to vote shall be restored to individuals with felony convictions upon completion of their sentence, including parole and probation.

Language Assistance

• Voting materials and assistance shall be provided in multiple languages, as required by the demographics of the voting population, to ensure non-English speakers can fully participate in the electoral process.

Voter Intimidation

• Strict penalties shall be enforced for any form of voter intimidation, harassment, or obstruction at polling places. Clear guidelines and training for poll workers and law enforcement shall be established to protect voters.

Accessibility

• Polling places and voting methods must be accessible to voters with disabilities. This includes providing accessible voting machines, physical access to polling places, and appropriate assistance where needed.

Voter Registration

• Every citizen shall be automatically registered to vote on their 18th birthday. Voter registration processes shall be streamlined and made more accessible. Same-day registration shall be available at all polling places.

Election Administration

• Election administration shall be conducted by independent, non-partisan bodies to prevent any partisan influence on the electoral process.

Caging Lists

• The use of returned mail to challenge voter registrations shall be prohibited unless corroborated by additional evidence. Protections shall be put in place to prevent the disenfranchisement of transient populations.

Voter Education

• Adequate funding shall be provided for voter education programs to inform citizens about their voting rights, the voting process, and important election dates.

Election Funding

• Sufficient funding shall be allocated for the proper administration of elections, including staffing, equipment, and resources to ensure efficient and fair voting processes.

Ballot Processing

• All ballots, including mail-in ballots, must be processed and counted in a timely and transparent manner. Procedures shall be established to ensure all legitimate votes are counted and no ballots are unjustly discarded.

Certification of Election Results

• Certification of election results shall be a mandatory, ministerial duty with no discretion to refuse certification without concrete, verified evidence of fraud or error. Election officials must certify results based on verified counts and cannot delay or refuse certification based on unsubstantiated claims.
• Any refusal to certify election results must be accompanied by a detailed, public report outlining the verified evidence justifying the refusal. This report must be reviewed and approved by an independent, non-partisan oversight body before any action can be taken.

An amendment to ensure voting rights is essential to guarantee that all citizens have equal access to the democratic process. An amendment should address and mitigate issues like voter suppression, disenfranchisement, and unfair electoral practices, which threaten the integrity of our democracy. An amendment is preferable to a law because it cannot be reversed by any branch of the government.

The goals of a voting rights amendment are to:

• Reduce polarization by allowing the American people to vote on the rights they wish to have.
• Create a check on the power of all three branches of government to protect democracy.
• Make it easier to adapt our government to changing challenges, modern-day realities, and foreseeable threats.
• Prevent powerful business interests from impeding societal progress to protect their profits.
• Prevent partisan corruption of election results by local election workers.

In 2013, the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder invalidated key parts of the Voting Rights Act, particularly the preclearance requirement, which mandated certain states with a history of discrimination to obtain federal approval before changing voting laws. In 2021, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee further weakened the Voting Rights Act by upholding restrictive voting laws, making it harder to challenge discriminatory practices.

Disenfranchisement refers to depriving individuals or groups of their right to vote. This can happen through legal restrictions, like felony disenfranchisement, or administrative errors, like mistaken voter purges. Disenfranchisement is harmful because it excludes certain populations from participating in the democratic process, leading to unequal representation and eroding public trust in the system.

Some Founding Fathers, such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, expressed concerns about direct democracy, fearing that it could lead to mob rule and instability. As elites, they believed that a more controlled, representative government would better protect property rights and maintain social order. However, other countries have much more democratic governments and are consistently happier and more stable than those with less democratic governments.

In some countries, free elections are hindered by authoritarian regimes, corruption, and lack of political freedom. Governments may use intimidation, violence, and legal barriers to maintain power and suppress opposition, preventing fair and open elections and stifling democratic development.

The amendment introduces measures like independent redistricting commissions to prevent gerrymandering, automatic voter registration to increase participation, and penalties for voter intimidation to ensure a safe and fair voting environment.

Automatic voter registration ensures that all eligible citizens are registered to vote when they turn 18, reducing barriers to participation and promoting higher voter turnout. This helps create a more representative and inclusive democracy.

The amendment mandates that election administration be conducted by independent, non-partisan bodies. This helps prevent partisan manipulation of the electoral process, ensuring that elections are fair and impartial.

Voter education programs provide citizens with the information they need to understand their rights, the voting process, and key election dates. This empowers voters to make informed decisions, enhancing democratic participation and reducing the impact of misinformation.

• Automatic Voter Registration: Ensures that all citizens are registered to vote upon turning 18, increasing voter participation and representation.
• Independent Redistricting Commissions: Prevents gerrymandering, leading to fairer representation and reducing political polarization.
• Accessible Voting: Expands access to early voting, absentee voting, and ensures accessible polling places, making it easier for all voices to be heard.

• Non-Partisan Election Administration: Ensures that election administration is conducted without partisan bias, maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
• Regular Audits and Transparent Voter Registration: Prevents unjust removal of eligible voters, ensuring that the electoral process is fair and democratic.
• Prohibition of Voter Intimidation: Protects voters from threats and harassment, ensuring a safe voting environment.

• Streamlined Voter Registration and Same-Day Registration: Encourages greater voter participation by making the registration process easier and more accessible.
• Adequate Election Funding: Ensures that elections are properly funded, reducing issues such as understaffed polling places and outdated equipment.
• Timely and Transparent Ballot Processing: Guarantees that all votes are counted accurately and promptly, maintaining trust in the electoral process.

• Independent, Non-Partisan Redistricting: Ensures that electoral districts are drawn fairly, preventing powerful interests from manipulating district boundaries for their benefit.
• Automatic Voter Registration: Increases voter participation, ensuring that the electorate is more representative of the general population, reducing the influence of powerful business interests.
• Voter Education Programs: Provides citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions, reducing the impact of misleading campaigns funded by powerful interests.

Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) ensures that eligible citizens are automatically registered to vote when interacting with government agencies, like the DMV. This process reduces registration barriers, ensures accurate voter rolls, and increases voter participation by making registration more accessible and streamlined. By passing the Automatic Voter Registration Act, Congress could make this process universal, empowering more citizens to vote without unnecessary paperwork.

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) has historically protected against discriminatory voting practices, but recent changes weakened its provisions, making it easier for voter suppression to occur. Restoring the VRA’s full protections would require states to receive federal approval before changing voting laws, preventing discrimination. This would help ensure that all citizens, especially minorities and historically disenfranchised groups, have equal access to the voting process.

Expanding early voting allows citizens to vote at their convenience over an extended period, reducing the pressure on Election Day. Minimum federal early voting standards would ensure that all states offer early voting in federal elections, giving people with restrictive work schedules or other responsibilities more opportunities to vote. Increased early voting can also help reduce long lines and increase turnout by making voting more accessible to everyone.

Long lines discourage voting and disproportionately affect working people. Setting standards for sufficient voting machines, well-trained poll workers, and adequate polling resources can help prevent delays. Congress and states can enforce these standards to make voting smoother and more accessible, particularly in high-turnout areas. This would encourage a fairer voting experience, ensuring that all voters can cast their ballots without unnecessary waiting.