Tonight the City Council
will discuss a proposal that I have put forward to establish early voting here
in Worcester for local elections. I believe that such an effort would help
reduce lines on election day, make it easier for working people to vote and give
families opportunities to better educate young people about elections. I also believe
that this could be done at little cost to local taxpayers. Ultimately, this
proposal would have to be approved by the Election Commission and tonight is
just the first step in a process, but I think it would be a positive step. Read
more about this in a Brennan Center Report – Here is the summary and the link:
What Can Be Done?
Americans of all political
persuasions agree that lines of this magnitude are a disgrace. As President
Obama said on election night, “We have to fix that.” But what — precisely —
should be done? How do we fix that?
There are three reforms
that would dramatically reduce the excessive lines that plague voting, and have
the added benefit of creating a more efficient and secure electoral system:
- Modernizing voter registration
- Providing early voting during a fixed national time period
- Setting minimum standards for polling place access
As the world’s leading
democracy, the American voting system must be free, fair, and accessible. This
nation was founded on the principle that all are “created equal.” Every citizen
has a responsibility to vote on Election Day. But it is the government’s
responsibility to make sure the system works efficiently for those who exercise
this responsibility. Those who take the time to participate in democracy are
owed at least that much.
Much of our current
election system was developed more than 100 years ago. It is long past time to
offer Americans the convenience, flexibility, and security that they demand in
the 21st century.
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