The voting process should be simple, convenient, and fair for all Americans. But millions never make it on the rolls or to the polls, while hurdles like long lines, limited voting times, and restrictions on mail voting block many more. Communities of color, low-income communities, students, and seniors are at risk. That’s why we support a range of proposals to expand access to registration and voting.
The Brennan Center is part of the fight to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore the Voting Rights Act and protect vulnerable communities from racial discrimination in voting. We also support passing the Freedom to Vote Act, which would implement a number of reforms to modernize and standardize our elections. These include early voting, including on the weekend and evenings, so that those who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day aren’t shut out. It also requires the option for same-day registration, which lets people register and vote in one trip, so arbitrary registration deadlines don’t trip people up. It also includes online registration, so that getting on the rolls and updating registration information is as convenient as possible, as well as protections to ensure that eligible voters are not purged from the rolls. We also recommend that states take steps to ensure that all polling places have sufficient voting machines and poll workers to reduce wait times. This means allocating appropriate funding for all communities.
The Brennan Center supports a bold solution to ensure the safety of voters and election officials during voting. Our model bill, known as the Peace Act in the states and the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act in Congress, strengthens prohibitions against the intimidation of voters, election officials, and election workers. It would also establish a presumption that the presence of guns in and around our elections is intimidating. With the threat of political violence growing, states need strong laws to limit risk.
We led the way in developing and promoting automatic voter registration, in which eligible voters are automatically registered when they have contact with government agencies, unless they opt out. It’s a reform that has dramatically reshaped registration by making it much easier to get on the rolls.
