The ‘America Votes’ act:
Lets get a head start on ensuring that in 2022 and 2024 that everyone in America can vote. The bill, at a minimum should include:
1) The Columbus Day holiday will be replaced with an Election Day holiday
2) Early voting (2 weeks minimum) shall be available in every state, with adequate funding provided
3) New voting machines will be created that will be more secure and will enable a paper trail that the voter can check and confirm.
4) The number of voters per voting booth/machine will not vary between precincts by more than 5%. Urban areas will thus have as many voting machines per person as suburban areas.
5) Disseminating false or misleading information about voting shall be illegal punishable by not less than 1 year in jail.
6) Every citizen over 18 years of age are allowed to vote regardless of prison record. Prisoners are allowed to vote by mail. Other than being a citizen, there shall be no other requirements to vote.
7) Technology shall be developed to allow safe and secure voting online, to be piloted in select areas with a goal towards future elections being conducted online, while also allowing in-person voting.
8) Voter intimidation of any sort will be punishable by not less than one year in jail. This includes verbal or written intimidation as well as brandishing weapons in or near polling locations.
9) Elimination of a voter from voter rolls must be confirmed by ensuring that the voter is no longer eligible to vote (by moving or being deceased) by contacting that person or the persons family. Invalid elimination shall be reversed if the voter is still valid. Any voter incorrectly deemed to be ineligible to vote shall be compensated with $1000, payable by the government agency that removed the voter from the rolls. Inactive voters shall not be removed from voting rolls unless it has been confirmed that they have moved or died. Electronic means of identifying invalid voters is illegal.
10) All citizens with a valid birth certificate or naturalization record are to be automatically registered to vote upon turning 18. No other forms of identification are needed beyond these forms.
11) All district borders shall be constructed based on natural boundaries and will be created by non-partisan groups.
12) Absentee ballots shall be provided to any person for any reason
13) All mail-in ballots shall be counted (but totals not provided) by the day of the election. Ballots received late, but postmarked by election day shall be counted.
14) All member of military service overseas will be provided with absentee ballots, and all ballots shall be expedited to the voting precinct using the fastest available method of transport.
I’m sure that there are many more things that can be added. However, at a MINIMUM, a bill like this should be passed to ensure that EVERYONE CAN VOTE, and VOTE EASILY. I am so sick and tired of hearing about all the crap that people have to go through to friggin vote. I’m tired of politicians picking voters instead of the other way around. If everyone votes, Democrats win. But frankly, if that meant that Republicans win, that is fine too, since that is what democracies are all about. Can we make it all fair?
Add your own addition below!